A highly experimental, emotional one-person show that explores grief and memory through classic and immersive performance.Rating
Good
Party hats sit on each seat. Bunting, empty glasses and birthday cards are strewn across the stage; remnants of what appears to have been a hectic night. The actor contorts on a makeshift bed. A video plays.
Cataclysmic sets its mood well: ambiguous, unsettling and strange. It is not clear why, what or how, but Andy (Vera Majoor) is trapped, haunted by something. This one-person piece takes us on a journey through nostalgia and grief, using classic performance, immersive theatre and art. It takes inspiration from clowning, with a focus on the body and physicality, rather than being driven by dialogue.
The piece is layered and experimental, urging its audience to ponder on its themes rather than its plot. For me, the pieces didn’t click until the end, so some more clarity and context earlier on would be beneficial in terms of pacing and attention. The lack of dialogue in the first half also makes the piece lose momentum at points. Despite this, Majoor’s ability to depict great emotion, through the body alone, is certainly accomplished. Their facial expressions, movements and use of the body convey an emotional and moving, yet also humorous, exploration of grief.
The use of media, such as video projection, a speaker and a phone, is a nice touch and used to the play’s advantage. Nostalgia and memory seep through as key themes here, and the props become vehicles for this revisiting of memories. They are used well to create unease, whilst driving forward the piece in the absence of words.
Writer, Oliver Wimbush’s metaphors are strong and the themes shine through without being too explicitly depicted. Emily Hawkins’ stylistic choices as director are effective and well combined to create the eerie absurdity the piece strives for. These take into account the actor’s movements around the stage, using the space to advantage. The lighting, by Majoor, only adds to this ambience, reflecting the emotions on display whether through colour changes or spotlights,.
Cataclysmic is bold in its divergence from traditional theatre. Avant-garde and experimental, it is a challenging piece for audiences to contend with, but is a challenge worth sticking with, for what the play has to say.
Written and sound design by Ollie Wimbush
Directed and video design by Emily Hawkins
Produced by Ben Peterson for No Such Theatre
Lighting design by Vera Majoor
This show has ended its run at The Hope Theatre.
