Culture Theatre

The Life and Loves of a Nobody at The Albany

The Life and Loves of a Nobody at The Albany | Theatre review

Experimental theatre company Third Angel brings The Life and Loves of a Nobody to stage, the story of Rachel, an unremarkable young woman with an unremarkable life. The play’s two engaging narrators, Life & Loves of a Nobody2Rachael Walton (also the author) and Nick Chambers, chart the protagonist’s life from before birth up to her present situation as a care worker. Recalling Rachel’s childhood dreams, the narrators lead the audience gently on to her disappointing relationships and depressing work life: she is a woman dissatisfied with her lot.

Third Angel’s staging is artistic, fearless and delicate. The narrators themselves create the predominantly paper sets before the eyes of the audience. Initially the assembly feels time-consuming, but the scenes that follow justify the lengthy duration, creating some simple yet visually stunning moments. The sets are built up only to be torn down moments later, matching the trajectory of Rachel’s trials. While some audience members didn’t appreciate having bread rolls thrown at them – one was returned to the stage at an inopportune moment – the cast didn’t allow it to affect the performance.

The Life and Loves of a Nobody is a beautifully crafted, innovative piece of contemporary art, commenting on the collective desperation to be a “somebody” evident in our society that alters our perceptions of success and happiness. The media is flooded with people we didn’t recognise yesterday and probably won’t tomorrow, gaining celebrity without clear reason or apparent talent. The Life and Loves of a Nobody encourages the audience to honestly question their own personal desires for fame and their fears of living a mediocre life. How many feel that they have missed the boat? How many would consider going to the lengths that Rachel is willing to go to? Third Angel is a company to follow for their poignant comments on modern-day society.

Tina Squatley-Thrust

The Life and Loves of a Nobody is on at The Albany until 7th February 2015, for further information or to book visit here.

More in Theatre

Girl from the North Country at the Old Vic

Antonia Georgiou

Till the Stars Come Down at Theatre Royal Haymarket

Jim Compton-Hall

The Merry Wives of Windsor at Shakespeare’s Globe

Sophia Moss

Noughts & Crosses at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Ruweyda Sheik-Ali

Wilko: Love and Death and Rock ‘n’ Roll at Leicester Square Theatre

Antonia Georgiou

Diamonds and Dust at the Emerald Theatre

Sophia Moss

Moby Dick at Tower Theatre

Benedetta Mancusi

Evita at London Palladium

Antonia Georgiou

Underbelly Boulevard Soho announces Fringe Fix programme for post-Edinburgh season

The editorial unit