Saturday 19 March 2016

Review: How I Became Myself at Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre




Reinventing Your Image

How I Became Myself (By Becoming Someone Else)

Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

Saturday 19th March 2016

Perhaps everyone has had that moment when you’re thinking: Who am I? What on Earth am I doing in my life?

Perhaps that moment when you wonder: Why did my parents give me this name?

Paula Varjack brought her single handed show about these very issues to the intimate Alphabetti Theatre. She used a mix of different media to describe a personal journey how “Sara Quin” found herself becoming the much more gregarious Paula Varjack. The journey not only involved a change of name but a change of many aspects of Paula’s life.

What moves this show apart from other spoken word performances was the mix of media used in delivering the story. There was audio and video clips mixed in with stuff on the microphone but there was also live videoing of Paula. Having Paula sat in a chair with her face obscured by a laptop which had a live feed from the video camera worked. Her face revealing her emotion as the interview clips were played gave the performance a live televisual quality. And it worked.

The packed Alphabetti  crowd were given the dual treat of a fascinating tale and a stimulating multi-media delivery. As with any great piece of theatre, it left you with reflective questions about your own identity.  A great evening’s entertainment.


This review was written by Stephen Oliver for Jowheretogo PR (www.jowheretogo.com). Follow Jo on twitter @jowheretogo, Stephen @panic_c_button or like Jowheretogo on Facebook www.facebook.com/Jowheretogo.



Next week at Alphabetti: Continuum written by Richard Stockwell
Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre
Tuesday 22nd – Friday 25th March 2016

Directed by Ali Pritchard
Performed by Arabella Arnott, James Barton, Matt Jamie, Rosie Stancliffe

Ticket Price Pay what you feel
Running Length Approx 1 hour.
Age Recommendation 14+ (please be aware strong language is used)





 

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