Review: Pick n Mix by Kat Rose-Martin

The back cover of this brilliant new play describes its author, Kat Rose-Martin, as a ‘Bradford lass born and bred.’ This earthy, salty description is entirely apt for a play which is set in Bradford and gives power and agency to its entirely relatable female characters. Perhaps it’s unfair to make direct comparisons between authors but Rose-Martin shares a geographical and literary heritage with the brilliant, late Andrea Dunbar. Her characters are funny and foul-mouthed, but there’s real stagecraft here and this is also a play with something to say.

The play starts with its heroines, Alisha, Kim and Olivia, in different toilet cubicles. It’s smart, frank and properly funny – right from the off. They all fancy local lad Jordan, the sort of plausible teenager who could charm these girls but whose flaws and issues we can see a mile off. Without giving too much away, it’s a complex exploration of friendship and the testing of loyalty.