A two-hander with captivating performances about trying to find love and also yourself.
Strings is a new writing piece by Scottish and Irish London based theatre company Slàinte Theatre. The piece features absolutely beautiful performances by duo Kim Taylor and Aaron Devine who bring to life the characters of Sophia and Alex with tenderness and care.
The piece opens at a party, made intimate by the cosy space of The Lion and Unicorn Theatre and you really feel as though you are peering in to watch this relationship blossom, in a moment that is both exciting and familiar.
What follows the falling fast and hard meeting of Alex and Sophia, is the trials and tribulations of adult life – family death, worries about finances, jealousy, career failings -meaning the string that binds these two individuals together is no longer tight enough.
Devine brings a multi-layered performance to the complex and confused character of Alex, in a particularly moving monologue surrounding the character’s feeling of always wearing a mask, never knowing who his true self is and feeling out of place everywhere after leaving home – a moment most 20 somethings can relate to. Devine’s performance is so heartfelt you can really feel the character’s struggle and how close he is to cracking.
Taylor’s Sophia is initially exuberant and magnetic. As the play progresses you can sense how her character is being stifled by her relationship and environment. Taylor’s subtle performance and clever use of physicality displays this, retreating further into herself. As does the domestic set, illustrating Sophia’s confinement, deeply at odds with her dreams of music and living in Italy.
A tale as old as time, artsy girl meets STEM boy, Strings is relatable and nostalgic. In this there is both magic and repetition. But any notions of predictability are brushed away by these actor’s remarkable performances. Taylor and Devine are clearly ones to watch.