Snoligoster
Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne
7th August 2025
For the second time in two days I have been treated to a performance at the lovely Alphabetti Theatre. I wax lyrical about this unique performance venue in the heart of Newcastle Upon Tyne not only for the friendly warm welcome I always get when I visit but also for the eclectic repertoire of live theatre, stand up comedy, workshops and family friendly events on offer. It is a bustling hub of activity throughout the year and it is well worth checking out Alphabetti’s website to see what’s coming up – there is sure to be something there for every taste and interest.
This evening was the turn of Amanda Grace’s Snoligoster – an exploration of a mythical creature in Florida’s history possibly related to the Loch Ness Monster. The Snoligoster is described as a fearsome creature which inhabits the swamps of the southern states of America. It has a huge spike on its back which it uses to penetrate its prey and a propeller which it uses to reach astronomical speeds. In this play we are introduced to this freak of the swamps as being the last of its kind. It has been captured and taught the ways of Floridian life and also how to speak.
The Snoligoster (Amanda Grace) is introduced by Florida Tourism Outreach Team by Jessie (Jess Corner) as another Floridian attraction but is quickly dispatched by the fearsome beast after she mistakenly offends it. The history and story of the Snoligoster’s capture, incarceration and education is then taken over by the beast itself as it tries to make sense of the world around it.
I often talk about the craft of theatre and this is a prime example of it. In this case, the audience is not spoon fed anything from the start to the end. It is presented with facts and dates relating to the sometimes morally questionable history of life in Florida and allowed to make its own mind up. The Snoligoster, too, only has the moral code and values of the ‘cage ladies’ to form its view of the world. As one of its first responses is an act of vicious murder, it is apparent that the creature does not always get it right. Watching the beast come to terms with changes in its own moral compass is joyful and occasional painful to watch. There is one particular moment where a now ghostly Jessie blankly informs the monster “Well, it’s too late now, isn’t it?” which struck a haunting note as I watched.
I had to pleasure of speaking to the two performers after the show and it is clear that this production means a great deal to them both. Semi-autobiographical in nature to scriptwriter Grace, there are elements of self-discovery in the world and a sense of making amends for past deeds. There is a love for the inhabitants of Florida, despite some of their quirks and insensibilities which also shine through in the prose. There is also a sense of hopelessness, that what’s done is done but also that through understanding the historic events and happenings that, no matter what, there is always hope.
I think it would be a very brave man, Floridian or otherwise, to fully trust the Snoligoster, but Grace’s portrayal offers an ambiguous creature, predatory but vulnerable, quick to anger but also to learn. The creature itself put me in mind of ET – The Extraterrestrial who actually scared me as a child. I felt similarly uncomfortable as an adult in the presence of this other worldly beast grappling with the new world opening up before it and I venture that that is Grace’s intention.
This is a thought provoking piece which touches on some weighty topics such a racial tensions, homophobia, US gun culture and mass shootings. In these times of binary thinking and arguments, this clever piece of theatre does not seek to judge and instead offers facts for the audience to think about as the Snoligoster grapples with the morality of it all. Very clever indeed.
Snoligoster finishes its time at Alphabetti on 8th August before continuing onto The Space in London where it runs from 13th – 16th August.