Thrown

Thrown takes authentic testimonies from female participants in group sessions at Age UK and through binaural sound techniques, along with a cool microphone in the shape of a head, the stories are brought to life by solo performer Jill Rutland. Presented by Living Record Productions, the piece is formed around topics such as age, childhood, memory and relationships.

Upon entering, the audience are handed headphones, through which can be heard contemporary pop songs while waiting for the show to begin. The dark atmospheric stage is set up with an armchair, pillows and scattered books, and overhead golden lights. Calming ambient music and crackling soundscapes fill in the gaps between monologues, bringing to mind the work of Explosions and the Sky and David Wingo.

Dr Constance Ellis (Rutland) is a child psychologist, gradually coming to terms with childhood trauma and the loss of her mother at a young age, rhetorically reflecting, “if you could live forever what age would you choose?”. Rutland performs well, reciting lines flawlessly, in one scene providing the audience wonderful imagery of seeing the sky from a different perspective, playing as a child.

Though the subject matter is interesting, the overall nature of the script – written by Jodi Gray – is convoluted, unclear and requires improvement. The skittish text jumps from perspectives and personas, interrupting the flow and scattering the storytelling, making it hard to follow, which fails to enthral the audience, leaving more questions unanswered than anything else. The production would have been more memorable with a linear narrative, where the participants’ testimonials would have stood out.

Selina Begum
Photo: Living Record Productions

Thrown is at the Network Theatre from 6^th until 10^th March 2019. For further information or to book visit the show’s festival page here.

Read more reviews from our Vault Festival 2019 coverage here.

For further information about the event visit the Vault Festival website here.