The Wedding Review

Cast Theatre, Doncaster – 27th February 2018.  Reviewed by Sophie Dodworth

5*****

Cast Theatre in Doncaster is a suitable venue for this production; modern, fresh, clean and inviting, just like the superb eighty minute performance that you receive from Gecko. Gecko is an award winning, internationally acclaimed, physical theatre company, led by Artistic Director Amit Lahav. Amit is clearly a man of many talents, as the theatre that he produces will blow you away.

There are that many sides to this performance, truly multi-faceted. The performance takes you on an emotive journey focusing on relationships, marriage, divorce and all other aspects of relationships that we find ourselves in. The Wedding is essentially a contemporary dance piece, dressing the stage in the luscious language of captivating movement.

We meet many different characters, introduced on to the stage in an almost birth-like entrance, down a slide on to a pile of childrens teddies and toys, symbolising the embryonic stages of a personal story beginning. You are then take though the stages of the individuals lives, through their working lives in the busy office environment, meeting the one you fall in love with, through nights out clubbing with friends, through marriage and then divorce. You witness domestic altercations between couples and this is acted with such gust that at times, you almost feel like you are intruding.

The performance is so relevant to our world right now, right up to speed and embraces all the issues and diversities that we encounter within our lives. The majority of the show has dialog in languages other than our native tongue, so you have no idea what is being said but you almost don’t need to, as it is all so well directed and the scenes are self explanatory. Music from all different cultures and countries fills the auditorium, always leaving you wondering what style will come next.

The cast are an accomplished fantastic team, clearly equipped for this type of movement theatre, all with healthy experience and strong training.

Stand out moments must include the homeless man, living (and also entering the stage) out of a suitcase with his wife and friend, entertaining the crowds for ‘Euros’. He has the crowd in stitches and I am sure that at that point there weren’t many people in the audience without smiles on their faces. And the finale, my word, what a finale that is, the entire cast on their portable chairs with table lamps over their heads, singing for the first time, along with stamps, slaps and claps. The scene makes you wish they had sung before and will leave you wanting to stay in your seat for more. The long standing ovation at the end was well deserved and a true reflection of an impeccable performance.

If contemporary theatre is your thing then you must get to see this performance. A piece that will have you leaving the theatre with that fire lit inside of you.