An ambitious and thought-provoking fringe production exploring creativity, identity, and AI through a compelling central mystery, although its deliberately opaque storytelling occasionally sacrifices clarity for confusion.Rating
Nina and Robin (Hayat Roberta and Adrianna Kei) are flatmates in their mid-to-late twenties: both struggling creatives trying to find their place in the world. Nina won a prestigious playwrighting award a few years ago but has failed to build on that early success. Robin, meanwhile, desperately needs a steady income to pay the rent but cannot secure a “normal” job despite several interviews which test her mental strength. There is an imbalance in their circumstances: Nina appears to have the financial support of her parents, whereas Robin does not and may soon be forced to move back home. Despite this, the pair generally get on well. Having met through Instagram, they share similar musical tastes and make a genuine effort to support one another. Both also rely heavily on AI for advice and companionship. So far, so normal.
Things take a turn when Nina becomes obsessed with a penguin featured in a viral video. For no apparent reason, the bird leaves its colony and heads towards distant mountains. Before long, Nina has followed instructions hidden in a cryptic YouTube message containing GPS coordinates that lead her to a remote Scottish island known for suicides. Robin continues to receive updates from her until Nina enters a forest. From that point onwards, nothing more is heard. Months pass without any trace of her and, more unsettlingly, no one except Robin seems to remember that Nina ever existed.
This production is the epitome of fringe theatre, staged above the charming Lion & Unicorn pub in Kentish Town. The black-box performance space is almost entirely bare, save for a handful of minimal props. The two actors are particularly strong in their portrayals of the lead characters and convincingly capture the interdependent nature of their friendship.
The plot is deliberately opaque, which is often intriguing, though occasionally a little too dense. Nevertheless, there is a clear narrative arc. The central premise is clever: was Nina ever real at all? An intriguing clue towards the end suggests that Nina and Robin may in fact be the same person, although this is not confirmed or denied…
The play’s use of AI is particularly effective, elevating it from a mere plot device into a character in its own right. The boundaries between human and machine become increasingly blurred. Who exactly are Nina and Robin, and to what extent might they be creations of their AI “partner”? At what point does AI cease to be a tool and begin to function as our inner voice?
There is a great deal packed into this production: perhaps a little too much. I am not convinced that the extraneous voices need to be embodied as onstage characters; the performances in these moments lose some of their nuance and drift towards caricature. There may be more effective ways of conveying those strands of the narrative. The storyline itself also demands some effort from the audience at times, and there are moments when confusion outweighs intrigue. I enjoy theatre that leaves room for interpretation, but in this case a little more clarity would have been welcome.
That said, there is a great deal of promise here, both in the writing and in the performances. The lighting design is particularly effective, drawing attention to different areas of the stage as required, while the video screen at the rear is used to strong dramatic effect. A particularly clever touch comes at the end when the AI voice changes and a shiver of recognition ripples through the audience.
Written & Produced by Jimin Suh
Directed by Kirsty Cherrett
Lighting Design and Technical Operator: Maddy Whitby
Produced by Low Tide Productions
Disappeared / Merged plays at Lion & Unicorn Theatre until Saturday 20 June.
