The Vaults Festival, London – 7 March 2018. Reviewed by Brian Gordon
5*****
The Vaults Festival has been running since 2011 and is now an exciting and vibrant collective of events and activities spread in the bowels of the tunnels below Waterloo Station. Easily accessed and a truly inviting atmosphere the festival has show after show in amongst the bars, food and social areas of this unique environment. Shows running until 18th March means you still have the chance to catch this event.
OK Bye is being delivered on its opening night like it had been running from the start of the festival. RedBellyBlack Theatre Companies production and arrangement was top draw with a cleverly articulated story of the goodbye. The recollection and reflection along with the story telling of the loss of a parent. The matriarch figure who was the glue in the siblings’ relationships is gone. Caring, death, grief and time are portrayed with the clever use of choreography, none dialogue, music and a little singing and dancing to great effect. Simple and yet effective lighting and set enabled the cast to deliver a funny and yet thought-provoking narrative to living life whilst working hard and working happy, as well as being knocked by the crackles of grief.
Wrestling with the nuances of not being guided and finding a new world order the rhythm of life has changed and will never be the same again. The eldest and only daughter April played by Kate Goodfellow gives a wonderful performance throughout with humour and poignance balanced whilst also able to deliver a lip-synched discussion over the weight of the world being on a pigeon’s shoulders…! Pete the older brother is portrayed by Sam Cornforth with hilarious and endearing quality. The baby of the family, university drop out Oli is delivered by Oscar Scott-White and is intriguing within the dynamic. Forced together again by tragedy and finding a new rhythm in life, its challenging having to be the grown up….
Musically accompanied from within view by Andrew Armfield and ably supported by Abi Toghill and Sally Colletts production this show uses a mix of techniques and craftsmanship to deliver a unique performance. Over played interviews, light boxes, dance and novel physical comedy to name but a few. You will sympathise, laugh, understand and be intrigued as you watch this hour of real moments with people.
I would recommend heading down the Vaults Festival to see this or indeed a selection of the shows on offer amongst the labyrinth of entertainment and art. OK Bye is a five star production running until 11 March 18 and for less than a tenner you will get a show that you will chat about for days for its unique story telling…