Review: Sandscape, Polka Theatre

This show for ages 2-7 is definitely a slow burner, but really worth it in the end. It starts with a very challenging beginning: the four performers simply stand in the stage space and stare out at the audience, making eye contact with everyone there, big and small. This spans quite a long time before they take a step closer and repeat the process. It’s a very unusual act and weirdly unsettling. Suddenly they snap their attention away, smile warmly and introduce themselves, explaining they are here to play with sand, before returning to their peculiar interrogation. Weird this may be, but immediately they’ve introduced a sense of curiosity and contemplation in the audience, and that is key to this production.

Coming to the Polka Theatre on tour from Nigeria, the team from Kininso Koncepts embrace curiosity and have a unique way of encouraging their audience to as well. There’s a focus which demands attention, so despite long periods of silence where only small actions occur, the children watch attentively, captivated.

The four performers (Angela Peters, Blessing Okunlola, Edgar Eriakha and Stanley Okeke) have an authentic, likeable rapport between themselves and create a wonderful connection with the young audience that speaks of respect and playfulness. They initially interact with a pile of sand, placing a hand in and considering the connection between the material and the body – what does it look like on your hand and where does it go when you move? As the show progresses, they use the sand in many different ways, sometimes artistically, creating waves of motion as it pours over objects and through the air or creating new landscapes on the floor. At times they playfully hide stones from each other encouraging the audience to help seek them in the sand; they wiggle their fingers, animating the grains, and flick sand at each other mischievously, causing the children to shriek in delight.

Then, as they brush the sand from their limbs the bodily connection transforms, becoming a rhythm; the slapping and clapping of wiping creates actions where music and singing can begin. We might not understand the words of their African language, but the visual understanding of happiness and friendship is really clear, and we’re invited to have fun together through their cultural practices. There is no background soundtrack to the show, so when it occurs this singing and music-making is particularly vibrant and enjoyable. Come the end of the piece the audience is invited to join in and play together in the sand, which they do eagerly, joyfully and imaginatively.

The whole process is beautifully fluid, organically connecting the properties of people and mineral to make us think about our place in the world a little differently. It’s brilliant to see this international work in the UK and refreshing to encounter such an extraordinary means of interaction with a very young audience. With the amount of attention required, the whole is probably more suitable for age 3+ rather than a tiny two, but one youngster near to me said “This is the best theatre show I’ve ever seen”. Can’t argue with that!

Created and directed by Joshua Alabi
Produced by: Kininso Koncepts

Sandscape has completed its current run.