LondonTheatre1

London Theatre: Tickets | Reviews | News | West End | UK Touring Productions

ATG Tickets
  • Home
  • Top Selling Shows
    • Musicals
    • Plays
      • A Christmas Carol
      • Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
      • The Mousetrap
      • The Woman in Black
      • Witness for the Prosecution
    • Back To The Future
    • Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
    • Dirty Dancing
    • Frozen The Musical
    • Heathers
    • Jersey Boys
    • Les Misérables
    • Mamma Mia
    • Matilda the Musical
    • Moulin Rouge
    • Pretty Woman the Musical
    • The Book of Mormon
    • The Lion King
    • The Phantom of the Opera
    • Tina the Musical
    • Wicked
    • London Theatres
      • Seating Plans
      • Adelphi Theatre
      • Aldwych Theatre
      • Ambassadors Theatre
      • Apollo Theatre
      • Apollo Victoria Theatre
      • Cambridge Theatre
      • Criterion Theatre
      • Dominion Theatre
      • Duchess Theatre
      • Duke of York’s Theatre
      • Fortune Theatre
      • Garrick Theatre
      • Gielgud Theatre
      • Gillian Lynne Theatre
      • Harold Pinter Theatre
      • His Majesty’s Theatre
      • Kit Kat Club London
      • Lyceum Theatre
      • Lyric Theatre
      • New Wimbledon Theatre
      • New Wimbledon Theatre Studio
      • Noel Coward Theatre
      • Novello Theatre
      • Old Vic Theatre
      • Palace Theatre
      • Palladium
      • Phoenix Theatre
      • Piccadilly Theatre
      • Playhouse Theatre
      • Prince Edward Theatre
      • Prince of Wales Theatre
      • Richmond Theatre
      • Savoy Theatre
      • Shaftesbury Theatre
      • Sondheim Theatre
      • St Martin’s Theatre
      • Trafalgar Theatre
      • Vaudeville Theatre
      • Victoria Palace Theatre
      • Wyndham’s Theatre
  • News
    • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • UK Shows
    • Alexandra Theatre
    • Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
      • Norman Bragg Studio
    • Brighton Theatre Royal
    • Bristol Hippodrome
      • Bristol Theatre Seating Plan
    • Edinburgh Playhouse
    • Glasgow Theatre Royal
    • Grand Opera House York
    • Granville Theatre
    • King’s Theatre Glasgow
    • Leas Cliff Hall
    • Liverpool Empire
    • Manchester Opera House
    • Manchester Palace Theatre
    • Milton Keynes Theatre
    • New Theatre Oxford
    • New Victoria Theatre Woking
    • New Wimbledon Theatre
    • New Wimbledon Theatre Studio
    • Princess Theatre Torquay
    • Regent Theatre Stoke
    • Rhoda McGaw Theatre
    • Richmond Theatre
    • Stockton Globe
    • Sunderland Empire
    • Swansea Arena
    • Victoria Hall Hanley Stoke
  • Newsletter
  • West End
  • Theatre Breaks
    • Dancewear
Home » Reviews » The Endling at Chelsea Theatre & Camden Fringe | Review

The Endling at Chelsea Theatre & Camden Fringe | Review

August 12, 2021 Last updated: August 12, 2021 11:59 pm By Chris Omaweng

It took me a little while to figure out what exactly was going on in The Endling, which doesn’t exactly start at the beginning. Why is there a man (William Moore) on the floor wearing nothing except underpants, who apparently can’t recall what his favourite colour is? Has there been a road traffic incident or a crime against the person that has caused him to be where he is? Evidently not, as his friend (Matthew Simmonds) isn’t exactly trying to get hold of the emergency services. All is explained eventually – well, sort of. The level of intrigue barely relaxes in this hour-long exploration of the extermination of species.

The EndlingThere is a smattering of lecturing, but it comes in the form of findings being presented by Robert Webster (Simmonds) and Bruce Erickson (Moore), doctors at a convalescent centre (a rehabilitation facility for older patients recovering from surgery or severe illness). A fairly gentle approach is taken when it comes to talking about endangered species becoming extinct due to human activity – the “How dare you!” platitudes are for another time and place.

Some remarkable physical dexterity is on display when the duo mimics the movements of various animals (the late Dame Gillian Lynne’s choreography in the Lloyd Webber musical Cats comes to mind). In another scene, there are some amusing descriptions of other species, and there’s some fun to be had in guessing what sort of living entity is being described, with vocabulary being limited by some sort of parallel extinction of words as the planet continues to shed species. Almost inevitably, given the subject matter, not everything is wholesome, such as the recreational game hunter who took a selfie of himself and a lion he had shot, and the practice in the Victorian era of making furniture out of exotic animals.

I don’t consider this a spoiler, as it’s ‘googleable’ information: the term ‘endling’ refers to the last known individual of a species, such that when the ‘endling’ dies, the species is extinct. What the production suggests is that there is, at present, no end of endlings. There isn’t, rightly, a definitive roadmap to reducing the current rate of species extinction – one heated discussion humorously takes a debate about what could happen in the future to its logical conclusion: if humans are the problem, would it not be expedient to get rid of humans?

There are various dramatic techniques thrown into the mix, including a song and dance number, some quickfire dialogue, and moments (yes, plural) where there is a complete lack of dialogue altogether. Direct addresses to the audience help maintain interest in this thoughtful and refreshingly non-accusatory show. Worth watching.

4 stars

Review by Chris Omaweng

What if you were The Endling, the last of the human species? Strange Futures’ new show explores possible futures for the world, and all that inhabit it.

Strange Future’s new devised show, The Endling, uses physical theatre and humour to explore the interconnectedness of human existence with the lives – and deaths – of other species. The show addresses pertinent issues of environment and species extinction, but in an indirect and entertaining way that aims to get an audience on side, not blame or shame.

“A joyous journey into the end of civilisation. Brilliantly performed with moments of laughter, loss and introspection”- Arts Officer, Severn Arts

Strange Futures Theatre Company consists of William Moore & Matthew Simmonds (Co-Directors/Performers) and Jane George (Dramaturg).

Chelsea Theatre on August 12th as part of the Chelsea & Kensington Fringe Festival, 7.30pm.
The Lion and Unicorn on August 20th & 21st, as part of Camden Fringe Festival, 8.30pm.
https://www.seasonforchange.org.uk/events/

Latest News & Reviews

West End Cast Announced for Peter Pan Goes Wrong at the Lyric Theatre

Mischief, creators of the multi-award-winning global sensation The … [Read More...]

Myra’s Story at The Trafalgar Theatre | Review

Myra McLaughlin (nee Hennessey) (Fíonna Hewitt-Twamley) didn’t start … [Read More...]

Unbelievable at the Criterion Theatre

Although Derren Brown does not appear in Unbelievable, the latest … [Read More...]

Shrek The Musical at New Wimbledon Theatre | Review

Shrek The Musical began life as Shrek the animated movie back in 2001 … [Read More...]

Octopolis by Mark Horn at Hampstead Theatre

Apparently, a sign above the stage read ‘A Future’ on occasion, … [Read More...]

Steve Coogan to star in Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove

Steve Coogan will lead the first-ever adaption of Stanley Kubrick’s … [Read More...]

Operation Epsilon by Alan Brody at Southwark Playhouse

Alan Brody’s two-act drama about the 11 preeminent German nuclear … [Read More...]

Copyright www.LondonTheatre1.com
By using our website you’re confirming that you’re happy to accept our use of cookies.
Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising - About Us - Newsletter - Contact Us