The Void at Lichfield Garrick Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW’
Reviewed by Lindsay Burton
Last night was a first for me when we attended the Lichfield Garrick to watch The Void. The production is a gripping science-fiction horror story that combines live theatre with film-style special effects to create an exciting and unsettling experience. Once the curtains were raised, we were presented with the opening set, which remains the same throughout the show. The story follows a space ranger called Flint (Alex Moran), who responds to a distress signal from an ageing spaceship, only to discover that the crew has disappeared and something dangerous is lurking aboard. Together with Blair (Ryan Simons) and Nova (Olwen May), they try to make sense of what has happened to the ship and its crew. We are also introduced to Phebus (Riana Duce), Miner (Terrence Rae) and Ru (Emma Leah Golding) and Nimisha Odebra (the voice of Ru), who we see on screen.
What makes this production different from a traditional play is the clever use of video footage, dramatic lighting, projections, and stage illusions. These effects help create the feeling of watching a science-fiction horror film while still enjoying the excitement of live theatre and creates a number of jump scares that was felt throughout the audience and kept us on the edge of our sets for the duration of the show.
The story also explores the idea of artificial intelligence and how much control technology should have over our lives, giving the production something to think about beyond the scares. Ryan Simons and Alex Moran are the inventive minds behind The Void, taking on the dual roles of writer and producer for Thunder Road Theatre. Their involvement in bringing the production to life features the enthusiasm, imagination and hard work that goes into creating original theatre. As both writers and producers, they have helped shape the tale from its early thought through to its realisation on stage, combining storytelling with the practical demands of putting on a live performance.
The show has a runtime of about an hour and a half so not the longest production which is also a wonderful thing as there is a lot of talking happening throughout and one has to pay close attention to follow and understand the story. Due to the nature of the tale, there is a recommended age restriction of 13 and above – I took my 13-year-old daughter and even though she handled the jump scares valiantly, I wouldn’t take a younger child due to amount of information provided in the narrative and having to pay close attention. As it is, I don’t think either of us understood the second half incredibly well – I may be trying to read too deep into it but again, not overly sure.
Tickets start from £26 but this show was only showing for one night at the Garrick. However, the tour dates and prices can be found here www.thunderroadtheatre.org and this production will be on tour until the 7th of November. We rate the show as 4/5. If you enjoy theatre and would like to see something a little different, be sure to catch this production at one of the theatres it will be moving to next.
Rating: 4/5
Fot shows at the Lichfield Garrick Theatre, visit www.lichfieldgarrick.com