This dance theatre performance from Rhainnon Faith company created a thrust performance space reminiscent of a pub; red patterned carpet, circular wooden bar, and a mix of “immersive” seats around the performing space which the performers interacted with, and more traditional rows of seats. Right from the start the piece created a very informal and non-performative feeling; actors were in the space interacting neutrally with the audience as they came in.
Quickly, however, the production moved into audience participation, which for me didn’t feel like it was set up quite right, and felt jarring. From here the two act performance had peaks and valleys. There were some very beautiful and evocative physical moments, but also moments which felt confused and disjointed. This for me was a problem of dramaturgy and directorial vision rather than performance; the company were wildly talented, moving through the performance space with a delightful ease and confidence. Unfortunately the result of the disjointed arch is that it felt like the first act was entirely too long, or could have been done without.
The one standout element was the sound design which included a live mix of the audience recorded moments to create a unique soundscape and collective memory of the experience. This was quite delightful; and lasts much more positively in my memory than the balance of the production.