53TWO, MANCHESTER – UNTIL 30TH SEPTEMBER 2023
REVIEWED BY ZOE BROWN
4****
Set beneath the brick rail arches of Manchester’s 53Two, one of few independent theatre venues remaining in Manchester (themselves in need of vital funding to continue their excellent work) sits the industrial, starkly lit, and smoke-filled stage. Two dominant screens showing rapidly changing, non-linear footage on a loop. This is Red Brick Theatre’s bold and fearless production of Simon Stephen’s fractured portrait of Britain in 2005 from the winning Olympic 2012 bid up to the aftermath of the 7/7 bombings.
Aptly set within Manchester’s own vastly burgeoning city centre, where it seems, the fast pace and homogeneous tone of city life is consuming our city, it feels right to explore the disparate voices of our citizens during this time, who all share a common theme; These are fractured people.
‘Pornography’ is written as a series of monologues and duologues by seemingly unconnected individuals, which can be interspersed randomly. It is uncomfortable viewing, as Stephen’s intended it to be. Deftly directed by Oliver Hurst we see, amongst others, the angst of a state school teenager, struggling to cope with adolescence lust for his teacher, and a dysfunctional home-life, spouting neo-Nazi ideology. A lonely widower past her ‘best before’ date and suffering the beginnings of dementia. Siblings twisted in incestuous misdirection. A man driven to a desire to destroy. It begs the question; in a Nation intent on growing rapidly, dominating the global market both politically and financially, Progressing for progress’ sake. Are we failing our citizens by creating such divisions and desires that will ultimately destroy us?
Standout performances from Isobel Ford, Matthew Haywood and Issac Radmore, particularly the latter, who, had to contend with a technical hitch meaning he was stopped mid-monologue whilst they re-set. Hats off to him for handling the situation with grace and composure.
What is most striking to me is the company’s successful use of multimedia, often a distraction in theatre, and yet every image, soundscape and video carefully complimented the action.
The use of a movement coordinator is well spent. With the cast crisscrossing the space in a purposeful hyper walk. Often over-lapping each other, gives the impression of a busy city centre. A slick transition into passengers on a tightly packed tube gives a chilling effect as we hear one of the 7/7 bombers, walk us through his movements on the lead up to exploding his bomb.
Red Brick Theatre describe themselves as a collaborative Manchester-based theatre company with a commitment to telling stories in an innovative way, through varying mediums. This show did not disappoint.