Shoreditch Town Hall, London – until 28 March 2018. Reviewed by Brian Gordon
5*****
Immersive Theatre taken to another level….This “show” for want of a better term delivers a powerful and resonant message from the second you walk into the building to the moment you collect your coat. Written by The Company and Max Barton this artistic delivery takes the audience through the tragic and normality of the history of care in the UK.
Researched and connected via the story of Mabel Cooper, a resident, patient, service user of a throw back archaic care system, in which the patients of St Lawrence, the Madhouse tell their side of the system. Paradise Fields is the new wave of “no patronising face to face care” web-based future of care systems. However, the sales pitch delivered by Sandra, Sue and Sally is rudely interrupted by the service users’ perspective. David Munns as the escapist breaks into the dynamic and gives some truths.
The space and the set indulge and encourage the interaction in the production. Guided by patient 36 and through clever use of technology and basically a great performance by every member of the cast the show flows through stages and performances. Grabbing your emotional and physical senses in each phase. The use of the space and the development of the atmosphere is genius and tests your every sense.
From the Mental Deficiency Act 1913 in which those with learning disabilities were labelled as idiots, imbecilic, feeble minded or having moral defects and being tied to a post as “therapy” though to the financial driven and emotional disconnected systems of the now this show tells an important message. It does it with humour, humility and a fantastic delivery based in good research and a genuinely amazing use of technology and space. I’ve never fed a pea to person I don’t know before and Dayo Koleosho as The Eater made this a pleasant experience from the other side of the glass. The thought of the morality of isolation through giving money rather than time or thought is created by the clever use of perspectives and expanding centres of gravity around the metaphors. Think carefully about that next Waitrose charity token.
The choreography and development of the metaphor throughout the story is testament to the performances of many, but of particular note must be DJ Hassan as the bird and Imogen Roberts as the goddess. Both of which created poignancy through their performance. Cian Binchy gave a staunch delivery of the baby…. Never has a baby had such insight into the simplicity of finance and tax, nor pulled of the most phallic of props. You will be laughing, engaging, dancing and most importantly thinking during this performance. Beware the feast you are promised, but most of all, be an active citizen and get to see this show.