The show opens with a very simple and sincere direct address to the audience, explaining the context of the actors and creative team, the nature of the story the audience are about to embark and the significance of remembering these stories. Simultaneously, the company slowly transforms the stage inviting us to enter the worlds of forensic anthropologists in modern day Argentina and then even further back to 70s Argentina under dictatorship.
The music acts as the beating drum of the story, not only varying the pace but using a myriad of layered instruments and vocals to send chills down the audience's spine. The story largely uses imagery and physical theatre but the little spoken dialogue said carries significant weight in the relevance of the piece.
The unique use of an old school projector and some water droplets creates a visceral sight to behold when dealing with the key themes of justice and grief. The use of powerful imagery is something which Ephemeral Ensemble excels at throughout and which makes the story seem more and more personal the deeper we go.
The cast transform in front of our eyes between the key characters of the story seemlessly and collectively they delicately move to the rhythm of the music to convey the depths of the emotions at play. They are particularly skilful in the electric use of puppetry which is harrowing especially when a skeleton rewinds to the pass to reveal what lead up to their death.
Josephine Tremelling's use of UV lighting to convey what is hidden, gives incredible scope in transforming the scene according to past and present but also profoundly highlights the themes of a hidden past and the grief of having a loved one 'disappear'.
The piece is truly astonishing and inspiring from start to finish as it reveals the importance of remembering these stories and the pain that Latin American's have endured with such dictatorships. It plays with the senses and tempo in such a spellbinding and heartwrenching way and leaves you wanting more.
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