The first act is a love letter to endangered species and our fragile planet. In its most direct interpretation of the title, we are guided through a series of vanishing creatures as if flipping through a specimen book. Starting with the Pyrenean ibex, its iconic horns become an extension from the performers’ limbs as they move fluidly between shapes. A blend of solos, duets, and ensemble pieces transports us through a breathtaking animal kingdom, as if we enter a David Attenborough documentary, most notably so when observing the South Selkirk caribou herd. The irony of the Smooth Handfish, depicted by perfectly synchronised, suspended hands, hints at the humour to come, which fully materialises with the appearance of the unfortunately not so endangered Climate Change Denier. Every movement is executed with remarkable precision, from the breath of animals brought to life through bone puppetry to the smoothness of water in sequences that evoke the imperilled seas, lakes, and glaciers. The use of voiceovers enriches the visuals with scientific detail, reaching its most haunting moment toward the end of the act, as a child’s voice observes the disappearance of a Bachman’s Warbler from their garden.
The second act takes an unexpected yet compelling turn, placing humanity (also seemingly figures in extinction) under the microscope. This thoroughly engrossing psychological exploration of how we arrived to this point in history is laced with sharp humour. The contrast between the first and second acts builds anticipation for the third, which, while thought-provoking, doesn’t fully unify the preceding concepts and big ideas. Shifting its focus to our ancestors and their place in the cycle of life and death, it holds up a mirror to humanity and the legacy we leave behind. Though the conclusion leans more toward the philosophical and abstract, the immense interconnectedness of humanity is powerfully conveyed through the ensemble’s physicality.
Figures in Extinction is so densely layered with meaning and imagery that it demands multiple viewings and leaves you desperate not to let it slip through your fingers in memory. It is the kind of performance that leaves you stunned into silence and deep thought. A production that feels essential, almost mandatory, to experience.
Show Title: Figures in Extinction
Venue: Aviva Studios
Review Date: 22/02/2025
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