This Is Where We Are - HOME, Manchester

The play, 'This Is Where We Are', brought to us by one of Manchester's most exciting theatre companies Take Back, is out of this world. Take Back Theatre based in Manchester provides political theatre using an artistic response. Aiming to commission urgent short pieces of theatre with scripts in hand in response to social and political events. This specific play is simple and short in length but extremely tense in its narrative and story telling style.

The spectator has no idea what to expect when we enter the theatre, the actors are casually walking around the stage, acknowledging the audience members. We are unsure what kind of play this is going to be. But as the play unfolds, the audience hang on to every single word that they say. The atmosphere is suspenseful. The play tells the story of an incident in Piccadilly Gardens, looking at the moment we find ourselves in and how we move forward together. It is original in its style. It does not rely on smoke and mirrors to create effect but focuses on words, dialogue and people. It is story-telling in its best form. Although we only ever see two actors, the detailed descriptions given to us allow us to imagine and create the entire scenario in our heads.

It is quietly intense with both actors walking around the stage telling the story whilst holding scripts. They swap scripts, they put scripts down and pick them up again. The stage consists of white and grey blocks, different sizes and water bottles. The props become metaphors for different things throughout the play. For example the city, benches, water fountains, which are not necessarily needed due to the utter brilliance of both Nadia Emam and Darren Jeffries but they do  assist in clarifying other characters mentioned.

We as the spectator feel like we know where the story is going, which on reflection says a lot about the society in which we live. We have all ready made an assumption based on specific details about one of the male characters within the story, a character which we never see or hear, we go off what the two main actors are telling us. The ending of the story however leaves the audience speechless, as we take in the information which we have been given. With the twist of the story becoming clear. A few shocked glances from audience members looking around clarifies and confirms how powerful this story and this play actually is. It is a play with great meaning and serves an even greater purpose. It leaves the spectator questioning their own judgements within life and what roles people play. Everyone has a story to tell. This is a play for our city. A heartfelt, northern, real spectacular.

 

Reviewer - Rebecca Phillipson

on - 30/6/18