I COULD'VE BEEN BETTER
in association with Bristol Old Vic Ferment
Written by Anna Harpin and Jimmy Whiteaker
Directed by Anna Harpin
Performed by Jimmy Whiteaker
Photos by Matt Collins (Crush Images)
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Entering an over 10's swimming gala at the age of 30, to defeat 11 year old nemesis Veronica Barr, a signalman swims for his life. A tender tale of love, loneliness and verruca socks.
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Short-listed for a Total Theatre Award in the category of Shows by an Emerging Company/Artist.
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"This is innovative, intelligent and quirky theatre… hilarious and poignant in turns and captivating throughout…a gem of a show, Idiot Child is a company to watch"
★★★★ WHATSONSTAGE
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PRESS FOR 'I COULD'VE BEEN BETTER'
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"Jimmy Whiteaker (is) fantastic. Loved its playfulness and all-sorts swimming pool"
THE GUARDIAN
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"beautifully written & performed dark comedy"
THE TIMES
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‘Whiteaker achieves both the playful and the peculiar. As James he is both endearing and vulnerable’
★★★★ A YOUNGER THEATRE
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"Anna Harpin's direction of the tragic lives of misfits continues to be intelligent and real...the denouement of I could've been better is beautifully heartbreaking, and Idiot Child is becoming a company not to be missed'
TOTAL THEATRE
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‘There is a wonderful unpredictability about (Jimmy Whiteaker's) performance, and a genuine warmth and engagement. It makes conventional theatre seem to run on tramlines.’
9/10 BRISTOL POST
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'This is heart-piercing stuff. Don't miss it'
★★★★ REMOTE GOAT​
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'But although I could've been better hints at a deeper sadness, it is primarily very, very funny, and Whiteaker's performance is superb'
★★★★ EXEUENT MAGAZINE
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"With sharp, consistent humour and subtly woven touches of heartbreak the script is very strong indeed. The ending...is truly heartbreaking"
★★★★ INFORMED EDINBURGH
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"Powerful, bittersweet, wistful...shocking undertow"
★★★★ THREEWEEKS
"This is innovative, intelligent and quirky theatre… hilarious and poignant in turns and captivating throughout…a gem of a show, Idiot Child is a company to watch"
★★★★ WHATSONSTAGE