THEATRE REVIEW: Opening event of Refract Festival, including WireDo, Minute Taker: Wolf Hours, and Joshua Ward. - Waterside, Sale. Greater Manchester.

Scientifically, refract means making a ray of light change direction when it enters, say, water or a glass at an angle. Artistically, REFRACT is a ten day festival of experiential performance, music, and events that challenge you to see the world differently; rerouting your point of view. I was delighted to be asked to review the opening event at what is a busy time of the year for theatre in Manchester.

Re:flect Exhibition Launch

First was the launch of an interactive exhibition in The Lauriston Gallery. It was ideal for the family. Children and adults alike co-create the piece with artists: Chloe Knights and Ella Boston. You had fun whilst learning about modern society. It was a colourful and playful escapade from our technological world. A thought provoking playground that reminded us of our excessively visual world. There was a need to re:fresh all of our senses and just play to combat our over-stimulatory present life. The aromatherapy section was splendid. This was most certainly a “do-touch” exhibition.

WireDo

This was the first show I ever reviewed as a theatre critic. So, my aim here is to write about how the show works within the Robert Bolt Theatre space and the context of the festival.

It remained an entrancing celebration of the circus art form, tight rope walking, and what the human body can achieve. Hanna Moisala used her body, a tight wire, and a physical composition inspired from the Japanese rope art of Shibari, to question what happens to the body when it surrenders to manipulation. She owned the stage with confidence, precision, and elegance.

There was the creative juxtaposition between the notions of restriction and release. As a performer what exactly was she in control of and what was she not? You had the honed synchronicity of the Japanese inspired music with the choreography against the involuntary reactions of her body when she balanced on the tight rope. Was it about striving for accomplished technique or pushing to achieve a beautiful performance which embraces human flaws? The “Cirque Du Soleil” build up to her trickiest tricks was effective in generating anticipation. Even if some sections felt unnecessarily drawn out. There was something magical about the tying and unravelling of knots.

I think this show was better suited to this theatre space rather than The Quays Theatre at The Lowry. The intimacy of the space accentuated the live thrill of watching it where one wrong move meant Moisala could have really hurt herself. It made the sudden silences, her fixed concentration and breathing all the more dramatic. The theatre space had been transformed into the ‘Cabaret Club’, where the tables were lit up pleasingly, and it complimented our experience of watching ‘WireDo’.

Minute Taker: Wolf Hours

Alternative singer-songwriter, Ben McGarvey took to the stage in an unearthly and nocturnal audio-visual show created in collaboration with a range of filmmakers. The live element was McGarvey’s singing and piano playing in contrast with the recorded components such as the series of music videos, cut-out animations, and experimental films. I can’t honestly say I’ve seen anything like it before. It kind of reminded me of the early era of cinema when live music was played alongside silent movies. This was the modern version of that. ‘Wolf Hours’ shed light on the psyches of several gay men throughout history, over the past century.

Some films are repetitious in terms of the storyline and it felt too low-spirited and blue at times, particularly as music and cinema is such an emotionally manipulative art form anyway. On the flip side, the music and cinema production elements were superb in establishing a spine-chilling atmosphere now and then, as well as emphasising the poignancy around the Aids epidemic.

You could describe McGarvey’s music as unconventional pop. Song structures were typical of what had been heard before, but musically there was regular fluctuation between major and minor tonality – chord progressions were embellished with dissonant notes. The lyrics belonged in the realm of fantasy and storytelling. McGarvey had a gentle stage presence.

Joshua Ward

Closing day 1 of the festival was Joshua Ward, a musician and composer working in the genre of electronic music. He had composed music for: dance, installations, film, theatre and performance. The ‘Sup Stage was a wonderful opportunity and platform to showcase forthcoming artists.

Referring back to the objective of the REFRACT festival, not only is it possible to see the world differently with the programme of works on show, but you perceive the endless possibilities of what can be created in the arts. Realising what can be achieved when you bend, divert, and deflect the rules.

Reviewer - Sam Lowe
on - 18/7/19