The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema & Tv
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
      • Shows
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureTheatre

Electric at Rio Cinema

Electric at Rio Cinema | Theatre review
22 November 2015
Mimi Biggadike
Avatar
Mimi Biggadike
22 November 2015

The Big House Theatre Company is behind this immersive theatre experience in Dalston, which combines traditional storytelling with an innovative use of space. Despite the fact that none of the people involved are professional actors, it is a polished and wholly absorbing performance, and one that is likely to reaffirm belief in not only immersive theatre but in art therapy.

All the actors involved (and they earned the accolade last night, not one of the being anything but professional) have been through the care system. This is the basic concept behind the work of The Big House Theatre Company, who state: “We provide a platform for them to participate in the making of theatre and to have their voices heard”. Voices are a huge part of the performance, and it is a credit to the direction that each individual voice is managed into a collective harmony and not a cacophony.

Centring around the character, Faith, the play is essentially made up of separate narratives that are incorporated succinctly to reveal the larger themes of desperation, loneliness, homelessness, gender and hope. It is a human play, each of the characters believable and inspiring. It is almost impossible to over-emphasise the humanity of this play or the realness in the actors’ performances.

The production takes place underneath the Rio Cinema in an incredible space that seems as though it was custom-built for immersive theatre. Immersive theatre, however, is simply the most recent addition to the basement’s history, with it previously being used for everything from an air raid shelter to the headquarters of a feminist radio station. All these aspects are deftly woven into the play, and the moves between rooms smoothly continues the overarching narrative without distracting from the importance of the interaction between set and actors.

Overall, a funny, touching and assertive performance and an admirable project that is worth more than the ticket price to support. If you can’t go, the cause merits a donation to help take it from its current state of strength to greater and greater heights of accomplishment.

★★★★★

Mimi Biggadike

Electric is on at the Rio Cinema from 18th November until 12th December 2015, for further information or to book visit here.

Related Itemsreview

More in Theatre

Redemption Room at Secret Theatre Online

★★★★★
Michael Higgs
Read More

24, 23, 22 at Chronic Insanity Online

★★★★★
Samuel Nicholls
Read More

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice at Southwark Playhouse Online

★★★★★
Michael Higgs
Read More

Typical at Soho Theatre

★★★★★
Ella Satin
Read More

Grimm Tales for Fragile Times and Broken People

★★★★★
Emma-Jane Betts
Read More

Gatsby at Cadogan Hall: An interview with Jodie Steele and Ross William Wild

Michael Higgs
Read More

Living Record Festival: Ain’t No Female Romeo

★★★★★
Brooke Snowe
Read More

West End Musical Drive In Online

★★★★★
James Humphrey
Read More

Hymn at the Almeida Theatre Online

★★★★★
Michael Higgs
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Theatre review

Mimi Biggadike

Electric

★★★★★

Dates

18th November - 12th December 2015

Price

£16

Links & directions

WebsiteMap

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Creation Stories
    ★★★★★
    Film festivals
  • Detroit Stories – Alice Cooper
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Judas and the Black Messiah
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Gatsby at Cadogan Hall: An interview with Jodie Steele and Ross William Wild
    Theatre
  • Laura Mvula – Under a Pink Moon
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • I’m Your Man (Ich bin dein Mensch): An interview with stars Dan Stevens and Maren Eggert
    Berlinale
  • I’m Your Man: An interview with Maria Schrader and Jan Schomburg
    Berlinale
  • The Girl and the Spider (Das Mädchen und die Spinne)
    ★★★★★
    Berlinale
  • Moxie
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Tina
    Berlinale
  • Moxie
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Souad
    ★★★★★
    Berlinale
  • We (Nous)
    ★★★★★
    Berlinale
  • Bicep at Saatchi Gallery Online
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • The Winter Lake
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Ghostpoet at Shepherd’s Bush Empire | Live review
The Fall of the Krays | Movie review