Whilst Scotland has the Edinburgh Festival Londoners can enjoy a varied menu of experimental and alternative theatre as part of the extensive Camden Fringe Festival.It describes itself as a piece of forum theatre, a phrase which usually fills me with horror as it's a form that often aims to break down the barrier between spectator and performer and often requires the viewer to participate. But fear not, our role in this production is to be the setting in which a series of actors emerge in character from our midst to bully us or a fake usher with confrontational monologues that demonstrate how even the most liberal of argument can oppress the listener when taken to extremes of anger or self righteousness, stifling debate and freedom of individual thought and response.
Some of the confrontations we're subjected too are very unpleasant indeed denying the victim self respect, recourse to medicine, a say in how their bodies are used and perceived and the futility of the listener's existence is a recurring weapon that forces us to consider whether we have any valid purpose at all.
It's particularly disturbing when apparently "nice" liberal characters like ourselves suddenly become oppressors when their strength of feeling pushes them to drown out any opposition to views which quickly spiral out of control.
Having the characters amongst us is startling and alienating to begin with but the ninety minute play soon settles into a predictable format. Often less would have been more when it's obvious the direction a monologue will take. Points are often reiterated again and again when it might be better to move on but I suppose repetition is a common way of imposing opinions on others.
The cast are are all excellent and fearless in the way they execute the material and the format under the assured direction of Laura Jasper. What actor doesn't love a monologue? Each makes the most of their time in the spotlight.
If I'm honest I'd have welcomed a little more variety in the casting. Everyone is attractive and in their twenties and... well, looks like an actor rather than the kind of bullies we might actually encounter in the work place, public services or on the bus but perhaps that was a conscious choice to lull us into a false sense of security before each put the boot in.
I also think writer and translator could have challenged themselves a little more in exploring language as a weapon, after all a cruel silence or a single chosen word can be every bit as devastating a weapon as passive aggression or ranting. The play has certainly inspired me to listen out for the different ways we use language to dominate others so in that respect this spiky, uncompromising piece of theatre must be regarded as a success.
It's not for the faint hearted but if you're in the mood for something provocatively different you can catch it at the Irish Centre in Camden at various times over the next ten days.
If you love the soaring melodies of WICKED you’ll really enjoy CHILDREN OF EDEN at the Union Theatre, by the same composer and lyricist, Stephen Schwartz.