Future Proof

This company has taken a broad range of highly honed physical skills which can more usually be found in company with trapezes and juggling balls and applied them to a series of pressing social and environmental issues. The result is confronting and inspiring.

The performers, Karina Schiller, Nina Robertson, Cassia Jamison and Easa Min-Swe join Tim Rutty and Harlow Carey in an episodic verbal exploration of the possibilities of plastic, the difficulties of getting a perfect coffee, international house hunting television shows and the potential for an animal uprising. As accompaniment they demonstrated balance and climbing over each other to reach giddy heights only to fall and be caught at the last moment by people who appeared out of nowhere. Their skill, combined with a very clever use of lighting and consequent darkness by Richard Vabre drew gasps from the audience.

Interspersed between these moments were displays of seriously expert physical theatre. The balance and floor work, climbing and dropping from a high frame and an extended strength display were the highlights. The soundscape by Ian Moorhead supported and shaped the mood of the episodes.

Episodic performances tease the audience into trying to find a thread of narrative or some common theme and this is not easily achieved despite guidance in the Director’s message. But the strong skills, careful lighting and buoyant music invite the audience to think and be amazed.

Ruth Richter

Photographer: Darren Gill