Review: 81 (Life), Almeida Theatre

The title 81 (Life) reflects average life expectancy in the borough of Islington, where the Almeida Theatre is based. This production heavily involves people from the borough, capturing the stories of local life in a series of scenes that are “experimental and experiential” in the words of the programme. The cast comprises 60 people from the community, reflecting the mix of ages, races, experiences and identities in the borough.

It is an important project for one of the country’s top theatres to engage with the stories of local audiences and present them on its prestigious stage, as opposed to programming only for the tastes of out-of-borough theatre nerds, like me. However, as a piece of theatre, 81 (Life) is only partially successful.

The beginning is slow. The cast gather on stage to proclaim aphorisms such as “Be the change you want to see in the world,” “Turn the key” and “Hold each other accountable”. For a show about Islington the opening scenes lack the specific details to conjure a strong sense of place. There is not enough Islington in this story about Islington.

As the scenes progress, they become more engaging. A story about the pause in a long-running friendship, which leads to personal growth, is relatable and genuinely moving. This is counterbalanced with stories of friendships starting, which provide hope and a sense of continuing everyday life in Islington. These contain the necessary vivid details, such as landmarks or a famous bus route.

The script is funny. It must have been challenging to weave so many disparate stories together into a complete whole, but writer Rhianna Ilube creates a detailed portrait of the borough, finding universal meaning and magic in everyday situations. There are some great comedy moments, such as helpful neighbours suddenly appearing in living rooms, or a game show where contestants must make the right choice for an important life decision, which turns out to be whether to vary what a man eats for lunch.

The cast is both a strength and a weakness of the show. Some acquit themselves well on stage, but some fail to project their voice, and I struggled to hear several key lines of dialogue in the small theatre. The diversity of the cast appropriately reflects the diversity of the borough (and London) and again the producers should be applauded for involving so many local people and weaving their experiences together into a whole.

81 (Life) builds to a strong ending, as the game show tackles the difficult issue of whether a carer daughter should leave home, with real tact and nuance. The final moments involve a ritual of letting go, with audience participation, which is powerful and moving.

Judging from the audience, 81 (Life) has attracted non-theatregoers to the Almeida and thus has done a good job not only in engaging the community, but also in reflecting it back to residents. Ultimately, this is an ambitious project that is constrained by the limitations of its core concept.

Co-created by playwright Rhianna Ilube, in collaboration with associate artists Darragh O’Leary, Francesca Beard, Ella Zgorska, Jordana Golbourn and over 80 people from Carboard Citizens, All Change and Islington Community Group.

Written by: Rhianna Ilube
Creative Directors: Dani Parr and Stephanie Bain
Movement Director: Darragh O’Leary
Composer, Music Director and Vocal Artist: Alev Lenz
Set Design by: Kate Bunce
Costume Design by: Bolu Dairo
Lighting Design by: Fraser Craig
Sound Design by: Bryony Blackler

81 (Life) has completed its run at Almeida Theatre.