CONGREGATION - Es Devlin @ St Mary Le Strand

50 individuals. 50 stories of coming to London under duress, forced to leave their homes. 50 portraits.

Es Devlin’s latest installation THE CONGREGATION at St Mary Le Strand showcases humanity in its purest form. Working with UNHCR and a team of co-writers, she met, drew, and interviewed 50 refugees living in London. Some who came decades ago, some only a few months — but regardless of when they came, each carries a story of creating a new home.

As you enter the church, the portraits are arranged like a choir, each drawn person holding an empty box. From here, a story unfolds, showcasing the uniqueness of each story while also drawing a thread of commonality, highlighting the humanity of these individuals, and their connection with the audience. Using mapped projections, music, and spoken word, we are transported. Despite the stories of strife, each individual shares a story of hope. The overall effect is surprisingly uplifting and hopeful.

Medea @ Soho Place (West End)

This is a relentless adaptation of the fiery Greek classic, in which Sophie Okonedo and Ben Daniels are sublime. Simple in its design, Dominic Cooke’s production is searing; set in the round, the audience are afforded no rest, particularly through the way the chorus is implemented. We are here to bear witness.

Okonedo and Daniels are worthy adversaries; the power imbalance weighs in Medea’s favour with the all female chorus lamenting Jason’s treatment of Medea. The exquisite shifts in character from Daniels as he creates all of the male presence in the play (aside from the children) creates a singularity, a sense that it isn’t only Jason but all men who betray Medea and her children. While the production and adaptation don’t by any means justify Medea’s actions, they do create a space (through Okonedo’s powerful performance) whereby we might question the tactics, but not the anger.

At a blistering 90 minutes, the production leverages visual imagery to support much of the back story we’d have received otherwise. Everything converges on the twisting, spiraling staircase down which the violence occurs - off stage yet on stage. Blood pooling, dripping; beautiful if it wasn’t so horrific.

This is an incredible production, worth catching if you can. Rain. Blood. Fury. What more can one ask for in their Greek Tragedy?