London Theatre Review: The Trial at Southwark Playhouse
Author: agirvan | Filed under: London Theatre, Theatre Review
Familiar to those I have worked with at C venues over the past couple of years, Belt Up are an an experimental theatre company hailing from York who have recently been making quite the impression at the Fringe. Their adaptation of Kafka’s Trial was one of two sell out shows that were staged at the Fringe this year, moving the group from their previous Red Room venue at C central into a found space in the fire wrecked C soco.
The back arch at Southwark Playhouse plays host to the piece for the next three weeks and again gives the piece a fantastic backdrop of urban decay. Just a few metres away from the trains rumbling over head the lighting design can only be described as spectacular, moving the audience from one end of the space to another, constantly creating new environments and revealing what sometimes feels like an endlessly large space. It really is a fantastic environment to showcase the work, adapted by and starring Dominic Allen.
What I should highlight for those who are not aware of Belt Up’s work is just how different it is. Breaking down every convention a traditional theatre goer might expect I was initally taken into the space blind folded last night. Having been positioned around the space, one by one, my blind fold was then removed by another member of the cast menicingly moving between us, hissing and groping as they went. The entire piece was presented in semi-darkness, the scene with most light being conducted by the light of a dozen candles, with shadows and shapes being present throughout. The creation of characters and different environments was achieved almost entirely by the use of torches. Their way of working is just completely different to what you expect of a theatre performance.
The company are now touring the pieces on the back of their Fringe successes. They recently had a stint at the Theatre Royal York as part of their highly innovative TakeOver 09 season and will be taking work back there in the new year. Belt Up certainly didn’t go unnoticed in Edinburgh, winning the EIF award last year and going on to work with the BAC/Forest Fringe. Having been picked out by Lyn Gardner in her Grauniad theatre picks for this week, describing the group as a “terrific young company”, hopefully the guys will be able to match their Edinburgh performance.
The Trial
by Franz Kafka
Adapted by Dominic J Allen
Dir Alexander Wright
21:45 (70mins)
November 10th 2009 – November 28th 2009
Southwark Playhouse, Shipwright Yard, SE1 2TF
Nr Tube: London Bridge
£8 – £18 Box Office: 020 7407 0234
www.nothingtoseehear.co.uk
Also playing is:
The Tartuffe
By Moliere
Adapted by James Wilkes
19:30 (90mins)
Photo credit: Borrowed from the Charlotte Higgin’s blog on Guardian.co.uk