Review: Murmurs Devoured By The Sea, Theatro Technis

If you’re not one of the many theatre fans jumping on a train from King’s Cross to Edinburgh in August, then don’t worry. Just 10 minutes from the station you’ll find Theatro Technis, one of the many venues putting on shows as part of Camden Fringe. Much cheaper than a train to Edinburgh, and it’s still absolutely packed full of exciting, innovative and intriguing shows.

For just two nights Theatro Technis is home to Murmurs Devoured By The Sea, a mysterious, hypnotic and intriguing show that combines dance, movement and spoken word to transport us to the sea for a story of grief, madness and the power of the waves. 

There is no linear plot; the show flows around themes of grief, loss and childhood abandonment. Much is left to the audience to interpret which is part of the joy of the performance, while Tutu Ching’s writing and direction keeps us on the edge of our seats throughout. We’re transported to the coast through a soundtrack of waves crashing against the shoreline. When the soundtrack moves away from such literal depictions of the sea, the cast lift pieces of white tissue paper which rustle and easily transport us back to the coast. At one point, they use the tissue paper to depict a dolphin diving amongst the waves, a beautiful moment in the show. The use of tissue paper in all its guises throughout the show is an ingenious idea which has real impact despite it’s simplicity. 

There’s no exact plot, and at times it is hard to piece together. Just when it’s starting to feel like an art school project, something entrants us once again and the power of their movement lifts the piece to a higher level. The choreography is enchanting and a pleasure to watch. It feels organic and peaceful yet sudden moments of intense movement create real urgency at times which is unnerving. The cast are slick in their movement together, and it’s hypnotising. They’re powerful in their synchronised movement and command the small black stage with ease. Kyu Sim gives a particularly confident performance alongside Pearl Seraphina Lee, who plays her role with an air of mystery that’s entrancing. 

The music is another highlight of the show. It is a mix of live vocals from the cast and recorded tracks by sound designer Andy Ho. It almost steals the show at times, as tracks morph and twist to reflect the action on stage. The final duet, performed a cappella by Levenka Andrea and Charlotte Touboulic, is haunting and a beautifully still end to a show that challenges the emotions. 

Although the tale is mysterious and at times hard to follow, it’s a delight to submerge myself in the world of Murmurs Devoured By The Sea, letting the movement, sound and hints of story wash over me. 

Written, directed and produced by Tutu Ching
Assistant direction by Tiffany Yeung
Sound design by Andy Ho

Murmurs Devoured By The Sea has finished it’s run as part of Camden Fringe