“Between Strands” deserves praise for its sincerity and beauty
Between Strands starts with a striking question: Have you ever thought about what your hair holds? Performance company Pebble Theatre certainly has. Aiming, much like a pebble, to show how ordinary objects or things can create ripples through the world, Pebble Theatre’s Between Strands explores one woman’s attempt to deal with the death of her grandmother in Taiwan whilst living in the UK. Drawing on East Asian traditions, Taiwanese rituals, and the universal experiences of grief and loss, Between Strands honours the dead through the living, both connected in this unique, beautiful piece.
A large strength of the play comes from the performer herself. Selina Hsung-Chih Tseng draws all eyes to her throughout, an elegant, gentle, but fantastic presence onstage. Playing the two roles of herself (at many different ages) and her grandmother, Tseng charms in her portrayals. The love and sincerity of her performance is poignant and evident from the start of the show, where she bows not three times, as is tradition, but twice, for her grandmother. Not quite ready to let her go yet, the show unwinds over the course of the next sixty minutes. She captures the audience’s attention from the outset. As her younger self grows older and her grandmother’s health deteriorates, Tseng captures both ‘characters’ with an astonishing strength.
While the trope of an adult in a Fringe show playing a child is often done poorly, Between Strands and the impressive ability of Tseng ensures this feels fresh and relevant. The plot unfolds in a delightfully slow, thoughtful story, separating it from Fringe shows which often feel rushed or overly quick. Instead, Tseng walks her audience through periods of her life, including a painfully difficult period at university, giving the audience a peek into the life of her wonderful grandmother.
By the end, several audience members were wiping away tears, as was Tseng herself. Between Strands deserves a solid congratulations for its earnest portrayals, moving story, and the unique movement aspect. The physical theatre adds a level of beauty and truth to the show, elevating it beyond other shows at the Fringe. Between the acting, the story woven, and the physical theatre, Between Strands is a show worth going out your way to see. Very rarely do shows attempt to work with such interesting aspects of theatre such as shadow play and physical theatre, and even more rarely do they succeed. Pebble Theatre’s show must be lauded for its creative, emotional, and directorial power. This is a free Fringe show to catch immediately.
Show Listing: https://www.edfringe.com/
LISTINGS INFORMATION
Venue: Laughing Horse at the Counting House
Dates: 18th – 22nd August
Time (run): 10:30am (60 mins)
Ticket prices: FREE / Non-ticketed
Fringe box office: 0131 226 0000 / www.edfringe.com
Content notes: Contains audience participation and potentially upsetting themes. Suitable for ages 12+