The House Party
Bristol Old Vic
★★★★

STRINDBERG’S naturalistic drama of 1888 exploring class and sexuality was ground breaking at the time. Not only were its controversial themes played out in real time without scene changes, but also a psychologically complex servant was a protagonist. Over a century later, both the style and subject matter have become the bedrock of much TV drama and undergone numerous reworkings on stage.

With all this in mind, Laura Lomas’s modernisation of Miss Julie was always facing an uphill struggle to rejuvenate such well-worn territory even with the aid of Frantic Assembly’s dynamic, stylised movement sequences.

The title character is transformed into a self-centred, hedonistic, emotional parasite — a largely unsympathetic example of a spoilt, selfie-loving teen on a drinking binge during her 18th birthday party. Her self-destructive streak continues as she flirts with Jon, her absent father’s employee and best friend’s boyfriend.