Sprint Festival at Camden People’s Theatre

On Wednesday evening, an audience watched a woman run into a wall 20 times. Before that they were led into a pitch black basement room, where they were joined by an albino woman, who told excerpts from her life story – her troubles about being innately shy and how she was misdiagnosed at a young age, which changed her outlook on life. The final piece shown was The Watery Journey of Nereus Pike, a multifaceted aquatic performance covering the metaphysical decent of an old lighthouse owner.

Sprint festival is currently taking place at Camden People’s Theatre, showcasing their up-and-coming, as well as their established, talent. The productions are innovative and in your face, but also challenging and entertaining.

In her show Fault-Line, Jess Latowicki walks into the limelight wearing the most outrageous gold-sequined dress imaginable and announces to the audience that she is going to run into a wall 20 times by the end of the show. Her act becomes a humorous tirade about excess and the values of Western society, and how, in the end, she runs into a wall 20 times repeatedly just because she can.

The Watery Journey of Nereus Pike, performed by Laura Mugridge, utilizes many innovative props to set the scene and turn what would be a distressing tale about death into a layered, delightful and ultimately life-affirming performance. Some of the most creative props include bath bombs, glow sticks, small toy fish and seaweed, and her performance incorporates an interactive moment when everyone in the audience pulls the scariest fish-face they can muster. If audience participation and facts about the sea are your thing, this show is a triumph.

For alternative theatre lovers, Sprint is an unmissable event. If you are new to the performance arts scene, it is a perfect introduction: funny, innovative and best of all, thought provoking. Special and moving, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Verdict: •••••

Andrew Collins

Sprint is on at Camden People’s Theatre from until 24^th March 2013, for information or to book visit here.