In theatrical and performance terms, one should never be afraid to experience something new and, for me the Vault Festival is certainly proving that this is true. Luminary Theatre’s production, “Megalopolitan” is yet another example of something I would not normally go and see, but which turned out to be entertaining and deeply thought provoking.
Written and performed by award winning performance poet and playwright, Karis E Halsall, “Megalopolitan” is an unusual fusion of poetry, video projection and electronic sounds (performed by composer Samuel Organ) that takes the audience, through the heart of a city and into individual minds, including our own. From the start, with a video showing a city rising out of nothing to become a teaming hub, its intricate road and communications links morphing to appear like a map of neurones in the brain, this was a compelling performance that at times highlighted our own secretly held thoughts. For example, I challenge anyone to deny that they have never sat opposite another person – on the tube, a bus or a station platform – and whilst admiring them for whatever reason (hair, clothes, make-up, body shape, jewellery, etc) had secretly been jealous and had a mild fantasy about destroying them out of jealousy. Go, on, please say it isn’t just me.
One of the really fascinating things about a performance such as this is how it can divide the audience. And this is one of the great strengths of the show, people see it completely differently and take away their own interpretation of what has been presented. For example, the Mystical yoga teacher segment left my companion and I completely disagreeing about what we had seen. He didn’t like the piece as he felt it was, without putting any gloss on it, outrageously taking the mickey (though he didn’t use that particular word) out of meditation. I, on the other hand thought it was a wonderful piece that was, for once, completely honest about meditation and its practitioners. Our discussion lasted into the bar with us finally agreeing to disagree.
One piece we did agree on was the really mesmerising Twitter Troll story. Starting so innocently with a grandfather’s complaints about a lack of snow tyres this story built in such a gentle way to reveal a woman with a compulsion to troll – illustrated by Twitter screen-shots getting more vitriolic as it went on and leading to an ending that was surprising, shocking and somehow very fitting.
This was a fascinating performance. The music, sounds, video worked superbly together keeping everyone focussed on the stories of the city unfolding before us. “Megalopolitan” is another really worthy edition to what has been a superb arts festival under Waterloo.
Review by Terry Eastham
Luminary Theatre presents Megalopolitan by Karis Halsall / Directed by Alex Crampton / Composed by Sam Organ
18th – 22nd February / 6.30pm
http://www.vaultfestival.com/
• A celebrative collaboration between an award-winning playwright and an esteemed composer;
• A poly phonic, poetic performance.
• A melodic, electronic madrigal about a Metropolis.
http://www.luminarytheatre.com/
This February Luminary Theatre presents their debut production Megalopolitan, at the VAULT Festival. This brand new theatre company won the Ideastap brief to perform at the festival and bring a synthesis of performance poetry mixed with live soundscapes to the stage.
Using spoken word, revolutionary music technology, a live soundscape score and animation Megalopolitan explores enlightenment and information overload in our LED illuminated world, whilst questioning the condition of the collective consciousness.
Friday 20th February 2015