BEAUTIFUL. There’s no other way to describe Lovesong.
Performed this month at Wokingham Theatre, the play was written by Abi Morgan, and originally performed in 2011 by Frantic Assembly, a UK theatre company known for its innovative use of physical theatre in storytelling,
While the Wokingham company could have chosen to shy away from this feature of the play, they have instead stepped thoughtfully into the Frantic Assembly model in a way that is both entirely natural, and at the same time visually gorgeous.
Lovesong tells the story of an ordinary couple seen at the beginning of their marriage, and also at the end of it as they enter their twilight years.
A patchwork of their memories plays seamlessly backwards and forwards as the couple remembers their younger selves, or look ahead to a future they can’t yet see.
It’s as if the past and the present weave poetically around each other like two parts of a melody.
Integral to the piece is its use of physical theatre and complicated effects.
“Technically the play is very complex,” said director, Sophie Pierce.
“We’ve had to work hard to create an environment on stage that is dreamy, and ambiguous.
“It’s been achieved through a beautiful melding of sounds, lights, projections, and costume changes, as the characters drift backwards and forwards in time from the 1970’s to the modern day.”
Incorporating physical theatre into the piece isn’t easy, but although the play can be performed without any movement, Sophie felt that doing so would be a disservice to the original intention of the piece.
So she invited Frantic Assembly, Lovesong’s original co-creators, to come and work with her cast.
“One of their team led a physical theatre workshop that was incredible,” Sophie explained.
“They gave us permission to explore physical storytelling the Frantic Assembly way, and to tell the story between the written lines.
“None of our cast members are trained dancers, but they have all fully embraced the physical theatre challenge.
“One of the first difficult things we had to tackle was a movement scene suggesting physical intimacy.
“After a nervous start it quickly descended into giggles, and suddenly everyone relaxed.
“It was very funny, and a very lovely moment, and testament to how much the cast has bonded as a group.
“It’s really important to have that closeness, not least because the actors are playing the same two characters at different stages of their lives.”
Lovesong covers some challenging themes, including loss, and longing, but Sophie says it’s not at all an over-archingly sad piece.
“These things are simply a part of life,” she explained, “and not something to be afraid of seeing.
“The play isn’t downbeat at all, it’s about what a privilege it is to live a life full of love, and to spend your life with someone who understands you and accepts you just as you are.
“I do hope there won’t be a dry eye in the house at times, but it’s definitely not a miserable play.
“I want people to leave feeling optimistic, and thinking about what a joyful celebration of life they have just witnessed.
“All life has to end sometime, but it doesn’t mean you can’t be joyful about it.”
Lovesong can be seen at Wokingham Theatre, from Thursday, January 22 through to Saturday, January 31, with the exception of Sunday.
Performances start at 7.45pm, with the bar open from 7pm.
Tickets cost £16.
For tickets and information, visit: wokinghamtheatre.org.uk
