We are all whispers from the past fading into the future. This is what I’m presented by when I walk into the Royal Court Theatre, projected onto a screen in classic typewriter font. Another horizontal screen beside it - here we see snapshots of a red space. Or is it in fact the foyer? And is that the usher letting an audience member into the theatre?
This is ECHO: EVERY COLD-HEARTED OXYGEN; a collaboration between Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour and Italian Palestinian director Omar Elerian. Each night a new performer who has not seen, read or researched the play takes the stage - in other words a cold read. Tonight it is American playwright and actor Jeremy O. Harris, of Slave Play fame. Throughout the show he is directed through an earpiece, reads from a letter and also a laptop screen.
Captions for those who are D/deaf and hard of hearing appear on small screens to the side of the stage. An AI voice begins speaking, telling Jeremy to put on a pair of socks and sandals and to stand in position by a Persian rug. Playwright Nassim appears on screen, calling from Berlin. The two have a discussion about why Jeremy wanted to do the show - a conversation we don’t usually see played out on stage. Nassim’s camera pans down to show him in the same shoes and sandals as Jeremy, stood by a Persian rug.
An exercise in empathy, ECHO’s story is that of Nassim’s channelled through Jeremy. During the show we meet Nassim’s family and friends and Jeremy recalls keys moments in Nassim’s life. Jeremy’s monologue, read from a laptop screen, is so moving and so human.
Jeremy’s excellent performance is highlighted by Derek Richard’s mind blowing video and production design. During the monologue we see Jeremy on stage as well as a close up of his face. It’s clear that Derek is employing filmic techniques to link up the ‘story-telling dots’. Derek’s ‘collage' like approach to video design - in one moment you see Jeremy on stage, a close up of his face, and Nassim’s room - makes the experience wonderfully immersive. At one point Jeremy stands behind a screen and we realise it is a gauze, he floats amongst stars and it is so beautiful I could cry.
This all pairs perfectly with Nassim’s metaphorical and lyrical language, that the captioning screens help to highlight. All at once the past, the present and future interact and…we are all whispers from the past fading into the future.
0 Comments