Provenance takes a look inside the world of a reclusive artist Patrick (Saul Marron) who lives in a small and cluttered flat surrounded by his abstract paintings. Which certainly brightens up the wall of the stage in Baron’s Court Theatre.

Ellie (Martha Lyn) bursts into his flat thinking she has found an easy mentorship and believes she might finally be on her way in her career. However, she doesn’t know how to talk to Patrick and the pair gets into heated banter, which at times can be uncomfortable.

Ellie’s had a tough life so far and is desperate to try and change things. However, the chip on her shoulder needs to be knocked off before she will get to where she wants to be. Although this will come with maturity and time and a few more hard knocks along the way. If you have anything to do with twenty-something young ladies there’s plenty in Ellie’s character that’s recognisable.

Her outlook on life challenges Patrick’s own life, where being shut away in his flat and artwork have become comfortable but he is not necessarily happy. I would love to have found out a bit more about his past and the catalyst moment that would have led him to be living almost in isolation now.

As mentioned in the beginning the stage is set as an artist studio with a collection of abstract paintings in bright colours, which add a nice feel to the dark theatre space at Barons Court Theatre. The touch of PULP playing on the stereo at the same time they headlined Glastonbury was a cool coincidence.

I felt there are still some developments needed in the characters and possibly a bit more “sass” from Ellie to provoke more from Patrick, twenty-somethings have a knack of doing that. I feel there is more to learn about both of them. After all, he doesn’t seem a likely candidate to have become a mentor.

For more information about Provenance and future productions at Barons Court Theatre. Although Provenance has now finished the run there are plans to put it on somewhere else in the future.

Three and a half stars.

https://www.baronscourttheatre.com/provenance

https://www.baronscourttheatre.com/

https://www.facebook.com/BaronsCourtTheatre/videos/provenance-by-jonathan-skinner/9631881520274192/