Mix tapes packed with favourite songs and long afternoons spent hanging out with friends are just some of the memories that come flooding back when you grow up as a child of the 1990s. Those themes — music, friendship, change — sit at the heart of Fizzy, Raw Theatre Arts’ latest production for Ventnor Fringe. Written by Si Lynch, the play follows four teenage friends who believe that no matter how much the world shifts around them, they will always have each other… until life delivers the kind of change none of them expected.
Arriving at the venue, we were greeted by a soundtrack straight from my childhood. Every few minutes I found myself thinking I remember this one, and that wave of nostalgia set the tone beautifully before the play even began. During scene changes, a screen displayed news clips, TV moments and cinema releases from the era — a clever touch that tied the whole 90s atmosphere together.
Each actor brought a distinct personality to their role:
Harrison Hartup revealed a gentle, vulnerable side to Jamie, especially in his scenes with Siobhan. His performance made Jamie’s emotional journey feel grounded and sincere.
Playing Jamie as an adult Si Lynch bookended the piece with a reflective, quietly powerful presence, offering a thoughtful contrast to his younger self.
Jess Rockhill as Lolly delivered a bold, performance, treating the audience to an impressive guitar solo — continuing unfazed even after losing her guitar pick. She captured Lolly’s humour, and her fierce loyalty to her friends.
Dominic Craggs brought a charm as Matt whether it was through his use of his video camera, or his playful banter with Lolly, he brought warmth and authenticity, making the easy camaraderie of long-time friends believable.
Rounding off the actors was Holly Hedge as Siobhan who gave a moving and heartfelt performance, portraying Siobhan’s quiet pain with subtlety and truth. By the end, her absence was felt deeply — a testament to how fully she inhabited the role.
All four actors carried their characters with emotional honesty, especially during their monologues. These moments reminded us that, regardless of age, people are shaped by their flaws, fears and hopes. The audience was so absorbed that during certain scenes you could have heard a pin drop.
Si Lynch’s writing, paired with Mish Whitmore’s sensitive direction, created a piece that didn’t simply ask, Do you remember the 1990s? Instead, it asked something far more universal: Do you remember what it felt like to be a teenager? It reminded us of the friends who walk beside us through life’s highs and lows, the ones who stay with us long after the moment has passed and the meaningful experiences that we share. The theme that resonated most strongly was that true friends never really leave us. This was beautifully echoed in the final moments, when Mish and Karl Whitmore appeared as adult Lolly and Matt, silently joining adult Jamie before walking offstage together. The quietness of that ending carried real weight, bringing the play’s reflective core into sharp focus.
I arrived having heard great things about Raw Theatre Arts, and left not only impressed but genuinely moved — reflecting on the themes explored, and reminiscing about the friends, past and present, who shape our lives.
A heartfelt well done to everyone involved. I’m already looking forward to seeing what Raw Theatre Arts creates next.
