Issy Cory
No-one needs me to give a review of The Nature of Forgetting, plenty have already done it. Originally debuting in 2017, the production has since been shown around the world, and is now back at the Edinburgh Fringe. Instead, I am going to tell you eight beautiful things about Theatre Re’s production:
- Storytelling
Who says that storytelling needs a script, needs lines, needs dialogue, in order to understand it completely? Companies like Theatre Re, or Gecko Theatre (this feels very reminiscent of their Time of Your Life), teach us to get out of our own heads, listen, and observe. They teach us not how to see a show, but how to feel one.
- Contrast
The Nature of Forgetting is a lesson in contrast. Yes, you can have big frenetic movement sequences, and you can have poised, tender moments, but without pitching the two against each other, you will never create drama. Theatre Re always seem to hit the sweet spot when it comes to contrast.
- Silence & Stillness
How brave it is to be silent, to be still. Today, the company held the entire audience in the palm of their hands, as they expertly demonstrated the power of silence. It is at these points where the pain of Tom’s story is most keenly felt. If you take anything from this production, take the courage to be still.
- Trust
Guillaume Pigé (who conceived and directed the show) manifests a palpable trust between the company and the audience. They trust us to go along with them, to jump into the deep end. They trust that we don’t need the ‘tell’, we only need the ‘show’.
- Music
Nothing beats live music in a theatre production. Even better when the actors interact with the musicians, or when they actually feature onstage. This blurring of roles is always a joyful sight to see.
- Movement
The movement! That’s all.
- Simplicity
Theatre Re also remind us about the importance and ironic complexity of simplicity. A chair is still a chair, a bike is still a bike. Arguably, they are not doing anything stupidly out of the realm of possibility, they’re just moving objects and their bodies in a way that looks astounding. You know they’ve done it right when it looks so easy, so achievable. It is, in fact, not easy at all. Believe me I’ve tried.
- Care
Lastly, the company treat every single move of a finger, or intake of breath, or placement of prop, with the utmost care. Nothing is lost on them, and not a single thing on that stage is done without intention. It must be… exhausting.
Go see it.
Recommended Drink: I could have collected a bucket full of tears from all the people that cried during this show.
You can catch The Nature of Forgetting at Grand at Pleasance Courtyard from Aug 16-19, 20-23 at 13:15. Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Jake Mace
Lamesha Ruddock
Jasmine Silk
