REVIEW: Into “The Void” at The Roses Theatre

Tewkesbury

Tonight, I found myself journeying into the centre of Tewkesbury, a town steeped in history and renowned for its picturesque riverside setting. Located in the north of Gloucestershire, Tewkesbury’s charm and vibrancy make it an ideal backdrop for a cultural evening out.

The purpose of my visit was a special invitation from Thunder Road Theatre to attend and review their latest production, "The Void", at The Roses Theatre. This opportunity was one I eagerly anticipated, not only because of the show itself but also due to the reputation of the venue.

The Roses Theatre is well-known for its comfortable seating, offering excellent visibility of the stage from every angle, complemented by reasonable bar prices. Once in my seat, I couldn’t wait to dive into the immersive and thrilling experience of The Void, a science fiction horror with an element of dystopian introspection.

Dive into The Void

Set in the year 2160, “The Void” plunges its audience into a bleak, post-apocalyptic future where Earth is nothing but a memory, governments have collapsed, and humanity serves corporations. The narrative revolves around Flint, a solitary space ranger tasked with scanning the emptiness for signs of life. Against all warnings from his ship’s computer, Flint boards an ageing and decrepit hulk of a seemingly crewless research vessel. It’s here that he encounters Blair, a slightly unhinged biomedical engineer and last known survivor. Together, they explore perception, trust and identity under the watchful eye of Nova, the digital overseer of the vessel.

 

Drop into the performance
Alex Moran delivered a deliberate and captivating performance as Flint, balancing survival with fervent loyalty to the corporations. Meanwhile, Ryan Simons played Blair with erratic panache, allowing trauma and paranoia to shine through. The two actors were complemented their surroundings which are designed with utilitarian aesthetic to be versatile and to evoke classics like Alien and Event Horizon. Props that were scattered across the stage gave the impression of abandonment and were utilised well with timed precision – an impressively orchestrated feat.

A large portal, surrounded by jagged beams was the centre of attention, serving as window into the lives of other crew members and ultimately the world of the wider research vessel and space that it drifted through. The imagery which was seemingly controlled by the disembodied voice of the omnipresent Nova, really kept the story moving, filling in the gaps, while providing an element of psychological tension as Flint’s reality unravelled.

To add to this low frequency hums, ambient noise, disjointed music and distorted radio chatter added to the atmosphere.

Smoke drifted slowly across the stage with its ephemeral fingers being highlighted by coloured lights that suited the mood of each scene. Indeed, lighting and darkness was used to brilliant dramatic effect, mirroring jump cuts in films. Other production magic was used, but quite honestly, I am not going to say what it was as you will have to see it for yourself.

In short, the production’s use of screens, projection, and sound design is nothing short of masterful.

 

A tribute to the genre of Sci-Fi
Personally, it was special to see a science fiction on stage. The last time I saw something remotely similar was a couple of years ago, when a production of 1984 popped up in a local theatre. According to the Internet Science Fiction Theatre Database, there have been 145 UK productions of artistic merit, originality and/or impact. The Void its place in the list of ‘Original Plays’, alongside Ghost Stories (which visited Cheltenham in the past year), and many other greats. 

So, is it worth it?
I would have to say yes. At its heart, The Void explores the consequence of letting fear take a hold of your mind. It also asks questions about who and what can be trusted; if memory is accurate and what it means to be human in a world of artificial intelligence.
Thunder Road Theatre’s The Void is a bold plunge into sci-fi horror that electrifies the stage with cinematic flair and unsettling atmosphere, without losing the intimacy of live performance.

Review by Julia

 

Click here for more information

 

The Mystery Reviewer

See all listings from The Mystery Reviewer

Newsletter
To sign up up for www.glos.info weekly newsletter, please click here.

Please mention www.glos.info when contacting this advertiser.