ROAM. To 22 April.
Edinburgh
ROAM
by Ben Harrison and the company
Traverse Theatre/Edinburgh International Airport To 22 April 2006
Mon-Sat 8.30pm (from Traverse)
Runs c2hr 45min (including return travel) No interval
TICKETS: 0131 228 1404
www.traverse.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 5 April
Played out in part against the most extravagant scenery you’ll see this year - planes taking-off and landing - this is an adventurous, finely-co-ordinated piece of site-specific theatre.
‘Site specific’ often means Victorian: performances in old houses, factories or sewage systems. But Grid Iron, with the National Theatre of Scotland, take audiences by bus to Edinburgh International Airport for scenes in check-in, departure, arrival and baggage collection.
Insistence on photo ID might be an airport requirement; it also fits Grid Iron’s theme. While several reasons for flying are played out, it’s clear from the opening check-in to the audience separated into US and THEM at the arrivals desk that asylum is a major issue.
At the start, no sooner has identity been confirmed and boarding passes issued than a parade of stereotypically happy air-staff dance down the floor. What follows is grimmer as counter-staff select suspicious travellers for extra scrutiny. One, made to open his luggage, has a suitcase symbolically carrying a pop-up model of his house.
Roam takes 3 places of conflict, Rwanda, Lebanon and Bosnia, then uses them to turn the tables. As TV footage reports terrorism in Scotland suddenly it’s the white Europeans who sit hopelessly, arguing or bribing their way to a flight, as condescending travellers from those countries rush past, commenting pityingly on them.
The piece works best where there is such propulsion. The sight of children seated round deserted, covered trolleys could have been a strong fleeting image; asking the audience to stand watching it while nothing happens overplays the moment.
The international professional and community company (who could have been more integrated into events at times and at times almost merge with actual travellers) play vividly, bringing their individualities to departure-lounge anonymity On this night anyway, play announcements that possessions, including children, may be removed and destroyed clashed with an apparently genuine boarding call for a delayed flight to Luton.
The airport, busy at the start, is deserted at the end, as a bag circles on the luggage carousel and cast-members wait expectantly with cards for their own special arrivals among the anonymous crowd The quiet confirms the mix of real and surreal running throughout this adventurous piece of theatre.
Cast:
Sarah Belcher, Claire Cochrane, Andrew Clark, Gergo Danka, Saseen Kawzally, John Kazek, Lisette Merenciana, Itxaso Moreno
Community cast:
Dennis Chakonda, Lucy Gogoliuk, June Gray, Louise Green, Alis McGuinness, Caitlin McGuinness, Aurora Palko, Xander Palko, Arnold Smit, SaulaVasakula, Clive Desmond, Lorna Gow, Willie Green, Jane Heron, Clara McCaw, Jane Mitchell, Sebastian Palko, Eloy Pena, Boy Pena, Zozek Tayelo, Dorothy Wilson
Director: Ben Harrison
Designer: Clifton Doliver
Lighting: Paul Claydon
Choreographer: Fleur Darkin
Costume: Joan Hickson
Dramaturg: Zinnie Harris
Assistant director: Jemima Levick
Assistant designer: Davy Dummigan
Assistant costume: Ailsa Rendell
2006-04-10 13:34:01