REVIEW: NOSEBLEEDS @ THE GLITCH

🎭 Nosebleeds

📍 The Glitch, 134 Lower Marsh, London, SE1 7AE

🗓 Friday 13th March 2026

⭐️ 4 Stars

A BLOODY INTERNAL CONFLICT

There's something remarkably visceral about the intimate basement space at The Glitch. Last night was my first time at the Lower Marsh venue, and it's the perfect spot for Katrine Renee Reoutov's NOSEBLEEDS - a piece that feels as raw and sudden as its namesake.

The narrative hook here is as sharp as a sudden sting. We follow a protagonist whose life is physically interrupted by these titular bursts, pivoting on a jarring trigger: the nosebleeds manifest the moment she hears about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It's a haunting bit of plotting; with one Russian and one Ukrainian parent, she is effectively a person whose very identity is at war with itself.

The story doesn't need any "flash" or over-the-top production frills. The raw, confessional storytelling is more than enough to grip the audience.

As someone who spent a good chunk of my own childhood tilted back over a sink dealing with chronic nosebleeds, I felt an immediate, phantom sympathy for our narrator. The descriptions of the metallic taste in the throat were so real, my body began to remember, and I once again tasted the silver.

But Reoutov takes that physical nuisance and turns it into something much more profound. Here, the blood feels less like a medical fluke and more like a carnal coping mechanism - a way for the body to physically manifest an internal scream when life gets too heavy to process. It's a focal point for the character. A crimson anchor in the middle of a storm.

Reoutov is an incredibly visual writer and performer. Her descriptions are so textured that you don't just hear the story, you see it unfolding in the air between you. For the most part the storytelling is top-tier. There are moments where the narrative seems to jump between stories quite abruptly - little jolts that catch you off guard - but the strength of the prose usually carries you through.

The direction from Amelia Jean Crabtree makes smart use of a constrained performance space without ever feeling cluttered. My only real niggle was with the lighting. Some cues felt a touch harsh for such a tight room, occasionally pulling me out of the moment. I will admit that this is perhaps me being a little picky, but as someone who pays attention to the technical aspects as much as I do, it was noticeable.

Honestly though, my biggest complaint is that I wanted more. At its current length it feels like we've only just scratched the surface of what Reoutov has to say. I left wanting to stay in that world a while longer. This is a production that could easily sustain a full hour, if not longer, and absolutely deserves a wider audience. It's a real gem that's ripe for development, and I'm very keen to see where it bleeds into next.

NOSEBLEEDS continues performances at The Glitch until Monday 16th March. Click here for more information and to book tickets.

Neill Kovacic-Clarke

All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one person.

My ticket for this performance of Nosebleeds was gifted by Katrine Renee Reoutov who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given.

WRITTEN & PERFORMED BY:

Katrine Renee Reoutov

RUNNING TIME (approx):

45 minutes, with no interval

CONTENT WARNINGS:

Occasional mild language; References to war

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