Handle with Care

Have you ever wondered if it’s possible to stage a dramatic performance in the confines of a self-storage facility? Well, wonder no more as ambitious theatre group Dante Or Die have done just that. For this month only, the company’s production of Handle with Care will provide theatregoers with an immersive and unique theatrical experience at an Old Street storage building.  

For the duration of the 90-minute show, audiences are led through a labyrinth of lockers (and even into some of these containers) following the story of the central character, Zoe. Set from the 80s through to 2016, spectators accompany the protagonist through the decades as she experiences tragedy, heartbreak, joy and love. The role is split between two dynamic actresses who represent the older and younger Zoe. Along the way, the character is joined by other engaging individuals – and one omnipresent warehouse employee – who all deliver a sentimental and relatable story in this unusual setting.  

The immersive experience itself can get somewhat claustrophobic when navigating the small lockers and corridors and with trying not to get in the way of the actors but, nonetheless, this proximity adds to the emotional telling of Zoe’s twisting and turning narrative. Each locker that the audience is led to conjures up another surprising development and the final locker brings the whole performance to an astonishing, creative and even more immersive conclusion.

Ultimately, the play explores the significance of the belongings that we keep hold of and what they tell about us. Handle with Care is a carefully constructed piece and gets viewers completely stuck into Zoe’s turbulent life events. This moving and innovative show is a must-see for any pensive theatregoer. The emotional script teamed with zealous performances and an unusual, absorbing setting makes for an entertaining experience.

Laura Ewing

Handle with Care is on in Old Street from 7^th until 25^th June 2016, for further information or to book visit here.

Watch the trailer for Handle with Care here: