A hugely fun evening of site-specific theatre
What happens when 19 Gaullier trained clowns walk into a bar? A playful mix of chaos and comedy, if this immersive revival of William Sayoran’s The Time Of Your Life is anything to go by. Taking place for three nights only across the fringe in the Voodoo Rooms bar, The Time Of Your Life offers a wonderful way to elevate a night out and to bring a space to life. Each performer brings a unique energy to the experience, with strong character work and skillful audience interaction. This playful and interactive atmosphere is elevated by live musicians, responding off-the-cuff to the action that unfolds.
Director Alayna Perry seeks ‘messy reckless fun’ in her vaudeville revival – this is absolutely present in what unfolds in her production. Perry has a strong vision of how to successfully invade and win over an audience of unwitting, drunken observers, which her performers execute wonderfully. It is a pleasure to watch this ensemble collaborate and improvise, enhancing each other’s work with their quick and witty interactions. However, at times it felt like the performers’ skill was at odds with a script that didn’t always find it easy to hold our attention. I loved the immersive experience but felt a different story could have offered more excitement and engagement, a view which was perhaps reflected in the clusters of people who didn’t make it through the show’s second hour.
Nevertheless, The Time Of Your Life certainly beats a regular evening out, as well as being a wonderful way to catch snippets of some highly talented performers, many of which are also performing their own wonderful work at this year’s fringe.
Date: Mondays August 10, 17, & 24
Time: Midnight (late night)
Venue: The Voodoo Rooms – Main Bar
Tickets: PHB Free Fringe – Donations Welcome