In My Lungs the Ocean Swells

Growing up by the sea is all that childhood sweethearts Julie (Jenny Walser) and Simon (Jack Brownridge-Kelly) have ever known. Their attachment to its waters, breathtaking sunsets and the family fishing business are the very anchors which, to this day, have kept their feet pinned firmly to the coast. But when opportunities in their hometown become scarce, the youngsters must look elsewhere, to a new life in the city which brings about its own set of cultural norms and challenges. Julie and Simon must adjust if they are to move forwards and excel. Can they survive in such a fast-paced world, so different from their own?  

Simple in execution yet complex in its message, In My Lungs the Ocean Swells is a gorgeous love letter to nature, highlighting its unique ability to nurture and calm the human spirit. The sea plays an immaculate role in constructing Julie and Simon’s identities. When it’s taken away, their carefree manner departs too.

Beautifully written by Natasha Kaeda, the production blends memory and real time smoothly and eloquently, enabling audience members to feel deeply invested in this pair of individuals’ lives long before they have witnessed their journey unfold on stage. With only a dark blue sheet of fabric and a storage chest of props to accompany the performers on their voyage, the interchange between coastal and city life is left completely to the imagination, and it flourishes. This is due largely to the meticulous lighting and sound design team, who encapsulate the peacefulness and chaos of these polar-opposite surroundings with the utmost conviction, but also to Walser and Brownridge-Kelly’s undeniable chemistry, which makes their transition appear all the more credible. 

Fresh and poetic, In My Lungs the Ocean Swells offers a flavour of what it’s like to start anew, its rewards and drawbacks.

Ghazaleh Golpira
Photo: Oliver Bryant

Read more reviews from our Vault Festival 2019 coverage here.

For further information about the event visit the Vault Festival website here.