‘I never realised IKEA furniture could be so symbolic.’
DNA Studio’s RTFM is a play about conflict, fear, chaos and grief. Performed by Helena Harrison and Philip Honeywell in an intimate studio space, this mixed media, physical theatre piece hit every emotion in the playbook.
Based in a war zone, we see a couple grapple with the seemingly normal task of building IKEA furniture. However, with a backdrop of conflict this simple household build highlights so much more about their relationship and the times they are living through.
Before the audience enter the room, the actors begin to set the scene. They ask willing helpers for assistance placing their flat pack furniture in the space. Already, the dynamics of their marriage begin to show as they bicker about the box placement.
Once in the performance space, the piece opens with voice over and red flashing lighting to highlight that the couple is living through a time of conflict and war. The actors use physicality to create a violent, chaotic atmosphere and build tension. They unbox the pieces with the same aggression they experience on the streets around them, transporting the audience into their reality.
We are then formally introduced to the couple David and Olivia, two very different characters with opposing approaches to the wardrobe build. David is headstrong, he wants to get the job done quickly and without assistance whilst his wife Olivia is insistent on doing everything exactly as stated in the manual. The IKEA build quickly becomes a clever representation of the frustrations in their relationship.
As the couple grapple with very difficult times outside of their home, they turn to the audience for support asking them to keep things safe, for build favours and for assistance as things grow increasingly darker. The audience become a part of the story offering hope in a time of adversity.
The furniture doubles up as set becoming a smart story telling technique to represent the war happening around them. As the build continues the wardrobe develops into different spaces such as a shelter and a coffin as times grow darker.
Although the piece was set in a dark time, grappling difficult themes of chaos and loss, the actors created space for humour and light relief. This often came in the relatability of the couple’s relationship, in their irritations at one another and their different approaches to the task at hand. This immersive piece was both insightful and moving and is well worth a watch.
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/rtfm-read-the-f-ing-manual