Operation Greenfield @ Zoo Roxy

A light has been switched on over the realm of Christianity. It is neither a sleazy red lamp nor a harsh unyielding white beam; but a warm yellow bulb. This is the motif of the Little Bulb Theatre company and the attitude of their latest production, Operation Greenfield. Four teenaged band members racing around the stage alittered with crucifixes, prayer books and guitars, as they strive for first place in the local music competition. Daniel played by Dominic Conway, is the lead guitarist and has a tight colourful t-shirt emblazoned with the Virgin Mary. Violet, played by Eugenie Pastor, is a French student who attends a Catholic church, writes intelligent lyrics and plays the electric bass guitar. Molly, played by Clare Beresford, is a member of the local Christian society and sings like Eva Cassidy. Alice, played by Shamira Turner, plays the accordion and quotes scripture. Little Bulb Theatre are fervently making Christianity look cool. Geek chic cool.

Is Operation Greenfield a gig or a play? It is both. The actors are musicians and the musicians are actors. It is this hybridity that makes the show so charismatic. Director Alex Scott explains. “I am interested in bringing out the theatrical qualities of a gig.” Scott evidently has a clear vision for his production; he wants a positive discussion of a topic that he feels is under-discussed in secular theatre. “The only thing that is really said about Christians these days is that they are stupid. Many religious characters I have seen in other productions have been represented with ‘serious’ issues or portrayed as very preachy”. The characters of Operation Greenfield are far from being preachy. The production is neither a conversion cattle market, nor a full critique of religion. It merely explores adolescence within the context of a church-going community. As Alice explains: the village of Stokeley could be anywhere in Middle England.

How true is the play to their real lives? Scott is keen to emphasise that they are not playing themselves, “The play is not an autobiography, but we do draw upon our experiences to devise material. I grew up attending an Anglican church and Sunday school. It was a positive experience for me. However I have not tried to be explicit with the actors or the characters. We never really know if the characters actually believe in their faith”.

If Operation Greenfield are in danger of being ‘twee’ they happily avoid this by exploring a number of key issues, sexuality, culture, psychology and above all music! The performance is neither polished nor perfection. Placards fall, wires get caught, masks fall off and there is only one microphone. These awkward details are deliberate and evoke the same of adolescence. This show is not just about Christianity, it is about the rise and fall of adolescence and all the discoveries along the way.