THEATRE / The cup that cheers

The cup that cheers: Wendy Houstoun about to anoint Melamie Pappenheim with red wine in DV8's 'Strange Fish' which ended its run at the Riverside Studios, London, last night. Fortunately the portentous imagery was kept to a minimum so that DV8's hard-edged realism, shock tactics, emotional depth, and physical daring surged forward in an uncompromising night of theatre. The piece, about a search for something to believe in, including oneself, was underscored by playfulness between the sexes - a couple tumbled joyfully like puppies - women mocking the vanity of men and the anomie of inner city parties. For courage and mastery, DV8 is unmatched. Anne Sacks

(Photograph omitted)