The audience begin the journey being lead cruelly inside the venue by guards, having been assigned name badges of random identities, walking through a maze of white asylum-like walls, and being screamed at by the other prisoners (actors in the show). They watch a video designed for tourists about the island of Great Britain, being made aware of all the famous exports (fish and chips, the London Eye, and of course X Factor). With the end of the film, the screen ascends, the lights go on, and we see the washed up unconscious body of Odysseus (played by Alex Tocili). He has been mistaken as an illegal immigrant, and the audience witness an interrogation by the guards to discover his original nationality. From here the famous epic tale is told: Odysseus is desperately seeking to return to his home, the island of Ithaca, after many years of travelling and interference by the gods.
As the audience voyage through the Performing Arts Centre, learning of Odysseus’ travels, they not only witness a spectacle but become part of it too. The actors were hugely successful in incorporating the audience as an extra character, breaking the ‘fourth wall’ and strongly engaging with the viewers. The show itself was similarly spectacular; it employed dance, music, puppetry, mime, lighting, singing and many occasions of audience interaction. Charly Solomou stood as a particular highlight, interjecting moments into the play with her stunning and rich vocals, which sounded all the more enchanting due to the acoustic quality of the rooms. Nor was the production static in its genre: there were moments of high tension, terror, compassion, and comedy. Hannah Sands and Harry Smith must be commended for their hysterical performance as merchants, suffering the effects of the infamous ‘lotus-flower’ drug, which threw the audience back into the time of hippies in the sixties. Similarly, Kitty Gould and Sam Harrison as the interrogators managed not only to create an intimidating atmosphere through scenes of harassment, but would then go on to create moments of light relief with their humorous interaction.
Perhaps most admirable of all was the energy and enthusiasm that the whole ensemble injected into the show - every actor was dedicated, staying in character despite having to interact with friends and family. Alex Tocili must be recognised for carrying the play through virtually every scene, and keeping the audience captivated throughout. The quality of each individual performance ensured a fantastic overall exhibition of talent, and the adventurous use of different media made the show an aesthetic masterpiece. Well done to both the cast and crew for all their hard work - it certainly paid off.
Kathy Stocker
Click to view the Odyssey programme