Theatre Review: A Voyage To Change The World, Barbican Theatre, Plymouth
“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” Charles Darwin
That is the theme that runs throughout the Strange Youngens’ A Voyage to Change the World. The audience is introduced, from the beginning, to a world that is formed and reformed by dusty old men, confident of their superiority – despite having little in common with the mysterious singing woman who actually seemed to have created the universe from packing crates as the lights went up.
The world remains what they believe it to be, as they set the status quo. This changes when they open another box and meet someone who doesn’t fit into their notions of what is normal. This daringly different woman questions their beliefs and shows how their world is nothing more than a fragile house of cards.
As it all begins to tumble down around them, they banish this mysterious woman, who threatens everything they hold dear, but one of them, Darwin, is intrigued enough to go with her. This voyage opens their eyes to the all the possibilities of existence and a very changed Darwin returns, brimming with all sorts of exciting new ideas about evolution and creation. Including the “preposterous” notion that mankind may have evolved from the apes!!!
This voyage of internal and external change is conveyed to the audience through improvisation, performance and dance and they are shown that it is possible for many truths to exist in unison. If we remain open to new ideas then our differences can connect us as strongly as our similarities.
In this piece, the Strange Youngens hint that the universal truths are all there . . . but perhaps just outside of our ability to comprehend them and the audience leaves the theatre with a sense that what we choose to believe as truth is less important that our capacity to respect and acknowledge each other’s right to view existence in their own way. A thought provoking night of theatre for anyone who has ever questioned or considered his or her own place in the world.
Friday 17th July 8pm @ Barbican Theatre Plymouth
Saturday 18th July 8pm @ Barbican Theatre Plymouth
Saturday 25th July 2pm & 4pm City Centre Piazza (as part of the Big Week Celebrations for the Cultural Olympiad)
Friday 31st July 8pm @ Barbican Theatre Plymouth
Saturday 1st August 8pm @ Barbican Theatre Plymouth
Other dates are yet to be confirmed but will be published on the Barbican theatre’s website: barbicantheatre.co.uk
Words: Alan Butler
