Ambitious and Original

Circus and performing arts company Baro d’evel presents a rather long but sometimes thought-provoking meditation on the human experience in ‘Who Are We?’, writes Melina Block.

An uneven mix of dance, physical theatre, spoken word and singing, there are some genuinely powerful moments. At one point, everyone on stage covers their heads with clay buckets which, after they poke holes where their eyes and mouth would be, are revealed to still be soft. Two members of the cast embrace, pulling away at the clay hiding their expressions from the audience. The more intensely they grab at each other, clay mixing together until it is unclear what came from where, the more that these barriers between themselves and their surroundings crumble apart.

The dancing is spectacular, incorporating acrobatics, modern dance and slapstick comedy in fluid sequences that see the cast soaring, slipping and sliding across the stage. At one point, live singing accompanies the movement, creating a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that seemingly has the audience in a trance.

The physical setting must also be applauded, especially the huge, tassled, curtain-like set piece which dominates the stage. Grotesque and claustrophobic one moment, pulsating and breathing the next, it greatly enhances the sense of drama and uneasiness – in a good way.

Unfortunately, there are quite a few times throughout the show that feel like they could have benefitted from being tightened. The pacing seriously drags towards the end, killing a lot of the power that had been carefully built up beforehand. The 20-something minute speech also feels too on the nose, undercutting the ambiguity which serves the rest of the performance so well.

Overall though, the sheer ambition and originality of ‘Who Are We?’ Is what sticks with you; an uninhibited piece of theatre that is not afraid to push boundaries.