Nobody Meets Nobody
Pleasance at EICC
The Jerzy Grotowski Institute has created a unique pop-up stage, “The Grotowski Institute Cube”, at Conference Square. From 3 to 24 August, this independent space is hosting as many as 51 events, including multiple screenings of performances that are the latest achievements of artistic constellations originating from Teatr ZAR. The Cube is certainly the star of the show – it’s a beautiful structure with flexible bench style seating and is immediately evocative on entering. It is a technically sophisticated space and feels like an adult play-pen. “Nobody Meets Nobody” is one of three performances that you can see in container ‘the cube’. This is work produced and created under the influences of the Grotowski Institute, from their base in Wroclaw, Poland. This is a performance piece that asks you reflect on the essence of a relationship. Created through experimentation and improvisation if offers audience a chance to experience the methods of Grotowski’s laboratory theatre.
“Nobody Meets Nobody “presents a man and a woman in what unfolds as a relationship drama. Almost completely rendered physically (there are the occasional words) this is a very fraught hour of theatre. The blurb tells us that this is “physical theatre of emotions. A man decides to leave his partner, but after a sudden accident, he never leaves their shared space. This tense situation results in an extraordinary shift in bodily impulses and their human relationship.”
The production may be pointing to a bigger philosophy about relationships but that was lost on me. The work is difficult to engage in and it can feel as though we are trapped as an audience especially when the action onstage becomes violent or at least suggests violence. But then life is violent and relationships can be destructive. It is a binary male/female exploration and at its base level hasn’t much to contribute to our notion of coupling. This is another story about power and manipulation even in the most intimate moments.
For the production of “Nobody Meets Nobody” chairs, rope ladder, a fan and pendant lighting are all suspended from the lighting grid. Shadows can be manipulated to support the work of the two actors on stage. The poetry of light along with the seering sound track is where the work is at its most satisfying.
Kate Gaul
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