Audience part of compelling show coming to Crieff
Production is based on famous Kafka story
A nationwide theatre tour by an acclaimed Scottish company is stopping off in Crieff later this week.
Vanishing Point’s new show, ‘The Metamorphosis: Unplugged’, is to be staged at Strathearn Artspace on Thursday, May 12.
The production is based on the compelling book ‘ The Metamorphosis’ by German novelist Franz Kafka in which the central character, Gregor Samsa, wakes up one morning to discover he has turned into a giant insect.
Like the company’s 2019 production, ‘ The Dark Carnival: Unplugged’, the new show will be presented in a musical, cabaretstyle and will feature two actors – Fiona Wood and Daisy Ann Fletcher.
Director Joanna Bowman explained: “The book starts with one of the most remarkable sentences in literature: ‘When Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from troubled dreams, he found himself changed into a monstrous cockroach in his bed’.
“So, for me, the play really comes out of that opening line – in the making of the show we keep returning to the wonder, excitement and even horror contained in that line.
“It feels essential in our production that we preserve the joy of reading that line and not knowing where the story is going to go. The surprise of the novel is at the heart of this show.”
She continued: “In our version, we are telling the story of the novel from the perspective of two cleaners who, while clearing up a bugthemed birthday, find a copy of The Metamorphosis and begin to tell the story to each other, with loads of music, foley – making sounds with household objects – and fun.
The novel takes as one of its themes the exploitation of people who work, and the resonances between the original novel and our new setting are huge.
“What also feels essential is how funny the novel is – this show is really leaning into the humour and absurdity of the story – and the joy that comes with such an ridiculous situation. Similarly, there are ridiculous moments peppered throughout our production.
“The book is so rich in its ideas and questions – it’s hard to believe it was written over a century ago.”
In relation to the production being a two-hander, Joanna went on: “The story itself is so rich and exciting that a version of the story with any number of actors would be exciting, particularly with the two performers we have in the show.
“We are thinking actively about how to tell the story, so it all feels as exciting as that wonderful opening line. We are using a wide variety of theatrical and storytelling ideas, stuffing the show full of music and exciting visual images, and sticking a load of jokes throughout.
“The way we are telling the story is completely about having a conversation with the audience, and they are essential to the storytelling.”
Joanna concluded: “We are consciously making a show that is entertaining and musical while also speaking to 2022, and the ways in which our lives have changed over the past two years.
“The actors, Fiona Wood and Daisy Ann Fletcher, are excellent musicians and this is a show with music at the heart of it.
“One of the characters in the play is a musician, and we have made the choice to highlight this throughout the show.
“We are also leaving lots of space for the audience to come and imagine Gregor and his world with us.
“The actors are brilliant, and the design work is really exciting and special.
“We can’t wait to share it with an audience.”
Tickets for the performance have been priced at £12 and are available via the Strathearn Arts box office in Comrie Street.
The price includes a dram of whisky or a soft drink.
The way we are telling the story is completely about having a conversation with the audience Joanna Bowman