A short, almost 13 minute long, duologue piece written in lockdown, about lockdown, about the theatre industry, its possible future, and how two people respond very differently to the crisis we all find ourselves in.
Two very opposing viewpoints collide as the two partners try to write an optimistic and hopeful piece about the theatre emerging from our current lockdown and blackout. It's very hard not to take sides in this piece, and as a reviewer (and also one who is active within the industry too) I need to remain unemotional and objective. The two actors, who have devised this live Zoom chat as a piece of online theatre need full credit. It's not only so real that I actually thoight it was real, but it also encapsulates the two opposing sides to the debate of funding the Arts and getting theatres back up and running again.
One has to wonder why theatres are not welcoming audiences yet, since we can so readily sit on public transport without observing social distancing measures, and as restaurants, pubs, shops and even cinemas have found ways to reopen, most of them with only the scantest of regard for the government's covid measures, it does seem somewhat ridiculous that we can't go into a theatre to watch a stage production. [hand santising prior to entry, wearing of mask throughout, longer interval].
However back to the piece, and as these two young Irish actors bring such a realistic and heartfelt - and yes, political - issue to the fore, anyone who has even the smallest connection to theatre or just loves theatre should watch this. Written and performed by Feidlim Cannon and Gary Keegan of Brokentalkers, and commissioned by Project Arts Centre as part of 'Future Forecast', this bleak, depressing, and angry look at a possible theatrical future cannot fail to strike a chord with those within the industry.
Reviewer - Chris Benchley
on - 27/7/20
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