THEATRE REVIEW: Evolve - North City Library, Harpurhey, Manchester.

This morning I was lucky enough to catch the first performance of a new piece of theatre - still in its development stages - called 'Evolve' from Forest Tribe Theatre Company. 

The piece, which is at the moment about 40 minutes' long, is targetted especially at primary school children with autism and speical needs, and despite all the restrictions and rules on COVID 19 precautions and social distancing, they were still able to make this show as immersive and participatory as possible. 

Our two talented performers, Sheema Mukherjee and Jasmine Ward, had a lovely rapport and manner with the vulnerable youngsters attending the show, taking time to greet each one individually with easy sensitivity. The children sat on mats and cushions in a semi-circle around the performance area which was, for the most part, left unadorned. A bench at the rear with musical instruments, and little else. There was a distinct Oriental feel running through the show. The prerecorded music was Indian in flavour, and this was backed-up by sitar, bells and Indian style gong and drums on stage.

There was no real storyline to the show as far as I could tell othet than one of the cast seemed to be looking for something, unsure what it was she was looking for, and then she found it... our Earth. But what did work superbly were the simple moments of repetition such as the single gong note each time there was a change of mood, and the breathing exercises. The songs were good and well-chosen; non-threatening and easy to listen to and follow, and the two performers enjoyed taking time with each audience member to interact with them as much or as little as they wanted in a very relaxed and easy way.  I loved the rain sticks, smelling the herbs, and the colourful planets - and the children did too. But our favourite sensory treat was, without doubt, the waterfall of tea.

There was a moment about half-way through which didn't work perhaps as well as it ought to have done. The two performers started to push parts of their bodies against the pliable material that covers light reflectors, and this combined with some rather discordant and jarring music did frighten the youngsters a little. Toned down, or with different music, it would have worked much better for their target audience I felt. 

However, this production is still very much a work-in-progress and so I think with a more definied and simple storyline, this could be a truly wonderful theatrical and multi-sensory experience for preteen austistic and high-care-need children. 

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall

on - 5.7.21