Victims and perpetrators of violent crime coming together in search of understanding and forgiveness from one another, sounds like a strange and jarring premise for a piece of theatre, but it works surprisingly well - largely due to the fact that the evening is based entirely on two real events. One involves an unprovoked attack at a train station and another where a random beating leads to a road traffic death.Five actors are randomly assigned a role (irrespective of gender, race or age) by the opening of an envelope handed to them at the start of the evening by an audience member. Each then relays actual taped interview dialogue as they hear it spoken to them through headphones. Lights above the sofas on which they sit, are turned on an off as each speaks.
Some of the detail is truly shocking - if only because the two acts of violence appear to be entirely indiscriminate, the results horrific, and the perpetrators (initially at least) without any remorse. Respite comes as each actor gradually creates their own ghostly body print on the blackened walls using whitewash.
The harsh reality is that true forgiveness can only be given with full understanding, and understanding is best achieved by a complete knowledge of the facts in any given situation. Thus we hear details leading up to the event, the act itself and learn of the aftermath on the participants, victims, and those whose lives were directly impacted.
Such an evening is not for the faint-hearted. All the facts are laid bare and there are moments which will undoubtedly shock, pain and anger everyone who goes to see this inventive piece. Ultimately however, the real-life protagonists strength in accepting and moving beyond their harrowing experiences is what audience members will take away with them.
The Listening Room at Gerry's Room, Stratford East, is performed by Ryan Gerald, Mark Knightly, Cathy Tyson, Harriet Madeley and Neran Persaud and runs until September 30th.
Fancy a sophisticated evening combining family drama with science thrown in? Then this is the play for you.