Theatre Re are specialists in what they do, and in this, their current touring production of 'The Nature Of Forgetting', they are at their best.
Described as being more about the fragility of life and that eternal ‘something’ we all share that is left when memory is gone than dementia itself, this is a piece of physical theatre that has gone through many revisions and consultations with dementia specialists as well as those living with the condition and their carers, in order to create this majority mimed and extremely slick piece of almost dance-theatre, which, rather than being morbid and sincerely worthy about their subject matter, mourning the loss of connection, actually celebrates the nowness and the connections that still do exist. It's joyous, even comedic in places, but never forgets that all these feelings and connections are ephemeral.
The present company is a team of 4 ensemble physical theatre performers - Louise Wilcox, Eyglo Belafonte, Guillame Pige, and Calum Littley. Between them they multi-role throughout playing father and daughter in the present and the various people in the father's confused, disjointed, and distorted memories. There is live music accompaniment (which at times is too loud, overpowering the idea and thought of the choreographed narrative) by Alex Judd and Nathan Gregory.
Sadly no programmes or cast sheets were available, and so the above information has been taken from their website.
With a running time of 75 minutes without interval, the piece works nicely, finding its own natural conclusion, and was actually much more enjoyable than a hard-hitting serious drama broaching the same subject would have been, but was no less powerful. This evening's audience was predominantly schoolchildren and college students, and the piece works nicely as a companion / follow-up to any class work on dementia and young carers.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 31.1.23
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