Up
by Visible Fictions
Directed by Douglas Irvine
Tron Theatre, Glasgow
14 September 2024
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The odds of perishing in a commercial plane accident are 29.4 million to one.
Reassuring.
Except if you’re the one.
This introduction to 'Up' by Visible Fictions drew me in faster than a plane plummeting to the ground. Morbid as that may be, plane crashes are unquestionably fascinating. I personally watch TV shows like 'Aircraft Investigation' to reassure myself that whatever the problem was, it has been fixed, and it's perfectly safe to fly.
One constant after any major accident or plane crash is the thousands of objects scattered on the ground. Random objects. Small objects. So many of them! And that's why Visible Fictions have hit upon the perfect medium to tell their story: Object Theatre.
Object Theatre is a rarely seen art form in the UK. (Director Douglas Irvine explained during the post-show discussion that he first encountered it in Belgium, and that it's very popular in Northern Europe). Rather than using puppets or props specifically designed for the show, Object Theatre uses pre-existing, everyday items to create a story.
Becky Minto's ingenious set for 'Up' takes the form of one of those vast warehouses where retrieved objects are stored after a plane crash. Metal shelves filled with boxes line the room, with those ominous yellow number markers you so often see at crime scenes on the news dotted throughout the space. The atmospheric lighting from Kai Fisher beams through the gaps in the shelving units and focuses our attention on a small pod of corporate desks in the centre of the room. The two actors, Zoe Hunter and Martin McCormick, spend the majority of the show sat behind these desks facing out to the audience. Office desks? On stage? Yes - but it works.
Hunter and McCormick play two strangers, Jay and Jamie, who meet on a flight. "As emergency masks plummet, engines squeal and hand baggage flies from the overhead bins, two strangers hold hands. Scared and breathless, their lives flash past as they face their final moments together." We do spend a lot of time in their pasts: past relationships, past traumas, past loves. But it all builds up to explain why both characters are the way that they are. And why, perhaps, they've met each other at just the right - or very wrong - time. It's a skillfully written and beautifully performed exploration of luck, chance and 'what if?'
For actors to learn lines and remember direction must be hard enough, but the two superb performers in 'Up' have hundreds of tiny objects to contend with too. As the story unfolds they reach under the desks and repeatedly pull out toy cars, dolls, little trinkets and knick knacks. They never look! They do it all from memory and touch so as to never break eye contact with the audience. It's remarkable. Coupled with well-timed light and sound effects, the actors put on an intimate table-top tale. It's like a choreographed dance of storytelling through objects.
I'd never heard of, let alone seen an 'Object Theatre' production before now, but if 'Up' is anything to go by, it's a fun and fascinating art form. It reminded me of children playing with their toys and making up imaginative stories to go along with them; which essentially, is exactly what it is.
Some of the objects are very small; and sometimes the finer details of the item and, on a handful of occasions, words written on the corner of a piece of paper no larger than A4 were barely legible to me. This production, I'm sure, is conscious of this and 'Up' is being staged in smaller studio spaces and cosy theatres on its Scottish tour. But I wonder if the table-top action could be enlarged and projected somehow for the benefit of audience members with not-the-best eyesight like myself? There may be a reason why this is not the done thing with 'object theatre', and I respect that. But I did see a few others in the audience lean forward at times to try to get a closer look at something that was obviously a source of amusement for those nearer to the action or with better vision.
'Up' is a new and fluid production: the creative team are trying to reduce dialogue and to add or remove and improve objects after every performance depending on audience feedback. It's a pretty slick offering already, but it's great to hear that they're always striving for better.
In addition to the main table-top performance using objects, twice during the show the actors broke character and moved to the front of the stage with a whiteboard to present mini lectures to the audience. The first was on 'The Science of Flying', and the other on 'The Science of Luck.' I loved both of these pieces! Incredibly interesting and entertaining subjects, these talks also forged a bond between the audience and performers who presented and spoke to the audience as themselves for a few moments. It heightened the intimacy and warmth in the room, and was a lovely, unexpected touch.
Visible Fiction's 'Up', though set against the backdrop of a dark, devastating scenario of a plane crash, is surprisingly funny and uplifting. There were so many random objects that became hilarious accents to the play thanks to the skill and imagination of the performers and the Director. All three, it transpires, have helped shape the play and the characters backstories themselves... And it shows. Their personal bond and fondness of the material shines through every scene. It's a joy to see a Scottish production company not only bring something new to our theatres, but to excel at it.
More please.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
UP is touring across Scotland in September and October 2024 with 10 dates including Glasgow, Stirling, Edinburgh and Greenock. | Jump to listings & tickets
📸 production photos: Enya Fortuna
Up Cast and Creatives
CAST
Zoe Hunter & Martin McCormick
CREATIVE TEAM
Co-created by The Company
Directed by Douglas Irvine
Associate Artist/Writer Frances Poet
Design by Becky Minto
Sound Design by Kevin Murray and Andy McGregor
Lighting Design by Kai Fisher
Production & Stage Manager Camilla O’Neill
Up dates and tickets
You can catch Up on tour across Scotland at the following venues:
Cumbernauld Theatre 7 September
St Andrews, Byre Theatre 10 September
Bellshill Cultural Centre 12 September
Glasgow Tron Theatre 14 September
Irvine, Harbour Arts Centre 21 September
Paisley Arts Centre 22 September
Greenock, Beacon Arts Centre 26 September
Aberdeen, The Lemon Tree 28 September
Stirling, Macrobert Arts Centre 1 October
Edinburgh, Assembly Roxy 5 October
⚠️ Age guidance: 14+
Up, Visible Fictions review, Object Theatre, Scottish Theatre.
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🎟️ Disclosure: I was invited to review this show and received a complimentary ticket in exchange. Neither the venue nor show has a say in what I write. I'm completely independent and invites have no impact on my analysis or star ratings.
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