Stunning
Newcastle Northern Stage
Until
Saturday 27th May 2017
Mark
Murphy returns to Northern Stage with the ambitious Out Of This World. With a production values, the likes of which we
haven’t seen since The Curious Of The Dog
In The Night Time, it is at times a real assault on the senses.
The
set at the start is made up of three clinically white sides and a pair of
sliding doors. Blood bags dangle from above and the floor is littered with
chairs that have been knocked over.
The
start of the show is deliberately chaotic. You have musician Ellen (Sarah
Swire) and her husband Anthony (Scott Hudson) running around trying to remember
everything before going on a trip. In addition you have a neurosurgeon
(Catherine Cusack), a doctor in orange emergency uniform, a nurse (Anwar
Russell) rushing around as there clearly has been an emergency. Whilst this is
happening Anthony’s brother (Alex Palmer) sits poleaxed on a chair staring at
the audience.
The
show then keeps repeating a scene in which Anthony wishes Ellen luck before she
goes on stage and the scene gets more surreal each time it is run through.
Without giving the game away, we want no spoilers here, order is soon brought
to the narrative. That is not to say the repeating scenes feel more and more
like a weird nightmare complete with people in the wrong places - such as half
way up the wall - and a phone that doesn’t co-operate (or is that just my
dreams?)
Talking
of people half up the wall, this is a good point to discuss the set. The white
set is used as a giant projector screen however Mark Murphy’s projections are
both impressive and well thought through. Be it a lift coming down on a single
panel or glass exploding across the whole set, they helped with the narration. The burning star which appears behind the
building looked spectacular.
In
addition to those projections there are the ropes and aerial work which
literally lets the action take off. The rotating performers gives the show real
kinetic energy.
The
lighting design, by Lizzie Powell, is very well thought out as it not only
picks out the action, it also conveys that sense of attack on the audiences
senses. This includes that moment when the action stops and Ellen steps forward
to address the audience.
The
programme notes state that this show has been a long time in the making. There
has been care taken to fully use the space available and produce a spectacular
show. Whilst the premise of the story is fairly simple love story, the vivid
interpretation, disorientating cinema and energetic movement set this
production apart. Mark Murphy's V-Tol: Out of This World is the most visually
stunning show we have seen this year and is worth seeking out just to see how a
live show can be produced.
Review
by Stephen
Oliver.
Cast & creatives:
Conceived,
written and directed by Mark Murphy
Devised
with and Performed by Sarah Swire, Catherine Cusack, Itxaso Moreno, Anwar
Russell & Scott Hoatson
Associate
Director: EJ Boyle
Set
Design: Becky Minto and Mark Murphy
Costume
Design: Becky Minto
Music
Composition and Sound Design: Nathaniel Reed
Lighting
Design: Lizzie Powell
Projection
Design: Pod Bluman / Bluman Associates
Projection
Film Content: Mark Murphy
Rigging
Design: Alex Palmer
Production
Management: Chris Hay
Executive
Producer (Scotland): Jon Clarke / BoldWorks
On
The Web:
Website
www.outofthisworldtour.co.uk
Twitter
@OOTW_Tour
Instagram
ootwtour
Youtube
OOTW Tour
Soundcloud
markmurphyvtol
Tickets:
Mark
Murphy's V-Tol: Out of This World
FRI
26 – SAT 27 MAY, 7.30pm at Northern Stage, Newcastle
Tickets
from £15.50
Recommended
age: 14+ (Strong Language)
Box
office 0191 230 5151 or online at www.northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/mark-murphys-v-tol-out-of-this-world
The tour then continues:
SALFORD QUAYS
GUILDFORD
OXFORD
TRURO
The tour then continues:
Tuesday 30th & Wednesday 31st May 2017
SALFORD QUAYS
The
Lowry 8pm
08432
086000
Post
show Q&A 30 May
Ticket Link
Friday 2nd June 2017
GUILDFORD
G
Live 8pm
01483
369350
Post
show Q&A 2 June
Ticket Link
Tuesday 6th & Wednesday 7th June 2017
OXFORD
Playhouse
7.30pm
01865
305305
Post
show Q&A 6 June
Ticket Link
Friday 9th & Saturday 10th June 2017
TRURO
Hall
for Cornwall 7.30pm
01872
262466
Post
show Q&A 9 June
Ticket Link
Running
time 80 minutes with no interval
Suitable
for ages 14+. Contains strobe lighting, smoke effects and strong language
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