NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE: By Tanushka Marah
Touring: Company Collisions
www.companycollisions.com (see website for tour details)
Runs: 1hr 30 mins. Interval: none
Review: Ranjit Khutan: Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton. Friday 3rd November 2006
I found myself holding my breath
This mesmerising and beautifully performed physical theatre performance is about what director Tanushka Marah calls ‘elated possibility.’ A show in which we are exposed to the extremes of a group of people’s beliefs, hopes, fears and futures when faced with adversity to take one option over another.
Using elements of clown, Butoh, Suzuki, dance and voice work, the ensemble create an environment in which we are transported to different lands and times. The play begins with clever puppet work, in a scene where two children argue and fight. The parallels of disagreements on such a small scale are then explored within a community who are seen to go about their everyday lives until they are confronted by outsiders - a helicopter is heard passing over them and the group finds a soldiers helmet. A powerful and emotional lament, sung by Bronwyn Lim’s Nyanya, signals the beginning of an end to their peaceful lives. They are clearly neither an army nor do they have the training to be one, and are forced to defend themselves through the use of household objects such as brooms and sticks.
There’s a sublime synchronicity to the actors’ movements which in one of the opening sequences makes you hold your breath in awe as you watch the performers set the scene. In typical Butoh style, white powder painted faces and dusted clothes cast ever increasing clouds into the air, as slow, almost unnoticeable movements, move into bigger and bolder ones - and all this accompanied by a thumping soundtrack that sneaks its way into the scene and begins to vibrate inside the very heart of you. This is a clever beginning and is used well to engage the audience in a powerful internal dialogue throughout the rest of the play.
This is a well thought through play, in which the company have meticulously explored and honed many skills, to provide a breath taking example of the power of theatre.
Ida: Liz Griffiths
Boka: John Healey
Gisley: David Kelly
Seedge: Sarah Leaver
Nyanya: Bronwyn Lim
Feeka: Tanushka Marah
Rio: Ira Seidenstein
Director: Tanushka Marah
Assistant Director and production manager: Luan Blake
Assistant Director and Stage Manager: Bronagh Lagan
Musical director: Andy Frizell
Additional composition: Jules Deering
Additional Composer for voice: Gunes Omer
Set Designer: Kimie Nakano
Costumes: Gael Mailhol and Craig Higgins
Technical Stage Manager: Geoff Hence
Voices of the children: Orla and Teige Dillon
2006-11-13 09:29:06