600 Seconds

600 Seconds, presented by The Blue Room’s Summer Nights, is a wonderful ‘taster plate’ of Fringe World Theatre. In six ten minute shows you get a diverse sampling of genres, styles and feelings.

Presenters are given one simple rule. You have 600 seconds. There are two different line-ups on alternating nights, and the audience has no idea what they are going to see.

In ‘AMA’, (which is net-speak for “Ask me anything), Gerard Harris asks the audience to do just that. The questions ranged from “Where do you live?” to “What is the worst thing you have ever done?” Harris is engaging and interesting and a masterful story-teller, and the ten minutes passed in a moment.

‘Married to the Rhythm’ is a physical piece with dance. Sweet and funny, with lovely use of colour, this show with minimal dialogue, is created and performed by Alex McKenzie, Patrick Keogh walker and Ella Norton, with creative assistance by Michael Davidson.

In ‘Quiche’, Bianca’s friends are hiding to surprise her. To celebrate her becoming a woman, they give her advice on feminism and ‘lady stuff’ in an energetic ten-minute party. Performed by Bianca Roose, Caitlin McFeat, and performer-devisors Anna Lindstedt, Eloise Carter and Maddy Mullins.

 ‘How to Say Goodbye' was written and performed by Kelly-Jo Fry, playing opposite Mitchell Whelan. An unconventional, bitter-sweet tale of separation, sensitively performed.

 ‘Print in Blue’ mixes dance with visual art by Travis Pitcher with emotive choreography and performance by Camille Spencer, in a change to a gentler pace.

The show closes with ‘The Life and Times of Nat the Knat” - an examination of what you would do if you only had a day to live, like certain insects. Well written and performed by Ben Gill.

The descriptions of the other evening of 600 Seconds suggest that it contains 6 very different experiences.

A lovely way to dip your toes into something a bit different, 600 Seconds is a wonderful little lucky dip of new shows.

Kimberley Shaw