Red Pitch Reviews

Washington Post- Highly Recommended

"...Soccer is staged with both finesse and ferocity in "Red Pitch," the London-born play enjoying an enthralling U.S. premiere at Olney Theatre Center. At times, the "beautiful game" is just that - grace and joy as encapsulated by slick stepovers and shoulder drops. At others, it's rage and resentment distilled into a crunching tackle."

DC Theater Arts- Highly Recommended

"...While the design elements and the individual performances shine in Olney’s production of Red Pitch, the interaction between the three characters allows the whole to be greater than the sum of its parts, as Bilal, Joey, and Omz spar on and off the pitch, call one another out on their bullshit, hype each other up, and have each other’s backs in a believable — and enjoyable — portrayal of teenage male friendship."

Washington City Paper- Somewhat Recommended

"...Ultimately, though, this production is frustrating. There are many social issues Red Pitch touches upon (class differences, toxic masculinity, health care), but the story never quite dramatizes them in a satisfying way. Admittedly, frustration is baked into the show's premise. Young people are the ones most impacted by gentrification, and yet they have the least power to protect themselves. Red Pitch offers a clear-eyed representation of this fact, not indulging in a resistance fantasy."

MD Theatre Guide- Highly Recommended

"...Omz, Bilal, and Joey are friends and three young footballers at the center of "Red Pitch" at Olney Theatre Center (OTC). Acceptance by a local professional club, like the Queens Park Raiders (QPR), gives kids access to the club's academy, a scholarship, and a potential future with one of the well-known teams like Chelsea, Arsenal, or Manchester United. It is a way out, and a way up, for many young black men living in impoverished neighborhoods in the U.K. or the U.S."

BroadwayWorld- Highly Recommended

"...Red Pitch is a game-changer. One can tell from the play’s simultaneous use of a soccer consultant, dialect coach, fight choreographer, and on-site medic that it takes some serious practice and grit to bring this piece to life."