Leeds Playhouse – 5th March 2025
Reviewed by Sal Marino
3 Stars ***
The Intrusion, a Bric a Brac Theatre and Told by an Idiot production is the perfect piece to explain the issues and consequences around climate change to a younger audience. Drawing on slapstick action and funny gags throughout the show, a small team of three actors tackle huge themes in a truly unique and dynamic way.
In this tale, humans have gone (or have they?) and an old species is now in charge but rather like the pigs who take over in Orwell’s Animal Farm, instead of learning from past mistakes, power corrupts. Will the same mistakes be made?
The music is original, catchy and stays with you after the performance. Even though the stage set and props are limited the text and digital media used really helps translate the storyline and keeps a fast-moving pace. The actors smoothly move between characters and scenes seamlessly giving coherence where it could get lost.
Without giving too much of the plot away, one gets to look at the serious issue of extinction and survival and ponder the question of “what if?” I do think that a bit more hope and faith is needed towards the end of the play with some updates on the fantastic work that is being done around the globe such as: the discovery of plastic eating fungi and the work being done by very young innovators whose ‘STEM’ ideas are incredible and must be shared. Just like ‘Ava Carter’s’ little secret in the play, these young, groundbreaking pioneers are our miracle who will save the planet and help engineer a beautiful and bright future if given the opportunity. The ‘billionaires’ and celebrities in ‘their bunkers’ are the old way and we can choose as sovereign beings and as a collective not to follow or believe them and go down that doomed timeline if we wish.
This play makes you question, think and reflect. Due to its funny and quirky delivery, The Intrusion, will be well received by a younger student audience as it will help them explore deep issues in a creative form. Funny in an offbeat way, The Intrusion will entertain you and provide some chuckles in parts.