• Advertise
  • Request Review
  • Write for Us
  • Privacy
  • Login

Theatre Bubble

The UK Theatre Network

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Features
  • Spotlight
  • Opinions
  • Interviews
  • Guides

Tesseract at Jackson’s Lane

January 28, 2018 by Tom Bailey Leave a Comment

Review of: Tesseract

Reviewed by: Tom Bailey
Rating:
4
On January 28, 2018
Last modified:January 28, 2018

Summary:

Moving fable of an artistic and potentially philosophical value

More Details

According to the simplest definition, tesseract is a cube inside another cube (provided by the Collins Dictionary). Young, internationally trained circus artist Nacho Flores brings a rather fantastical character story to the welcoming Jackson’s Lane Theatre, a multidimensional web of lives and dreams, struggles and stunts, allegory and high-rising endeavours.

The piece takes place in a world owned by doddering wooden cubes that behave as if alive, forcing their victim to go about his daily business while balancing on blocks that quite literally fall from under his feet. Even the most mudane tasks like watering a plant is a dangerous challenge since you don’t know when you will find yourself in the most terrifying position high above the ground. This, however, doesn’t mean that Flores was just there to show off his balancing skills. His character was after all, a comparatively normal man apparently stuck in this eerie world that made his life a nightmare. Bewildered by the constant surprises, moments of relief came when he succumbed to this playground in brief moments of impish joy. The fact that he loved these wooden objects was undeniable, often looking at them with endearment and taking a childish pleasure in constructing them into shapes when safely on the ground. At the most beguiling moment of the evening, the captive of this strange reality was even startled by the wooden cubes coming alive to become a seemingly mobile little person, becoming his much-needed companion for a precious few minutes. This brief encounter ended quickly and the perils and dangers of pervasive instabilities came back with new challenges.

Flores didn’t forget about the human necessity to escape the world of dreams and nightmares. In a mesmerizing climax, he combined his comic talents and imagination by letting his character climb the volatile set of stairs, enhanced with gorgeous some visual and sound effects.

It was easy to succumb to the magic created as it provided a self-contained reality. The performance, with gripping but simple and nostalgic music by Alessandro Angius, seemed to be a parable about life itself, with all the little joys and struggles and wooden cubes falling from under our feet when we least expect it. In fact, one could interpret the main character as an artist himself, a slave to his artistic products- yes, a source of joy but, (as any artistic form) requiring extremely hard work and studded with failures and disappointments. Tesseract showed itself capable of creating a moving fable of an artistic and perhaps philosophical value.

Author: Tom BaileyTom is a theatre maker and writer based in London, England. He covers news and interviews for Theatre Bubble.
T: Twitter F: Facebook

Filed Under: Review Tagged With: Jackson's Lane, Tesseract

Join the discussion Cancel reply

INTERVIEW / Fraser Grace talks about Bliss at the Finborough Theatre

Written by Fraser Grace (Breakfast with Mugabe, RSC), Bliss is based on a short story by censored writer Andrey Platonov. It’s at Finborough [Read More]

NEWS / Japanese Romeo and Juliet to the songs of Queen announced

Coming to Sadler’s Wells in September as part of its world tour, A Night At The Kabuki is a retelling [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Paul O’Donnell talks about Shoot Festival

Shoot Festival returns this year with a mix of commissioned pieces and showcases of the best of Coventry’s arts scene. [Read More]

Review / The Man who Knew Too Much at Omnibus Theatre

A packed Omnibus Theatre lapped up the entertaining antics of The Man Who Knew Too Much. Co-Director and Co-writer Olivia [Read More]

Spotlight / Inua Ellams at 05Fest Lewisham

Inua Ellams, the Albany and WE ARE LEWISHAM  presents………. 05Fest, 10 – 19 March Poetry takes front and centre stage [Read More]

Top Posts & Pages

  • 10 Tips to Help You Prepare for Your Reality TV Auditions
  • 5 Stage Elements to Consider for a Rousing Theatrical Production
  • How to Applying for Arts Grants and Funding
  • Katy Owen: Auditioning for Oxford School of Drama
  • Terrible Thames (Horrible Histories live onboard)
  • Writing the Perfect Press Release
  • Angus Yellowlees on blindfold interactive digital theatre
  • Complicité's A Minute Too Late at the National Theatre
  • The Living Record Festival 2022 announces line up
  • The Caucasian Chalk Circle- Unicorn Theatre
  • Tom Bailey
    Editor

  • January 28th, 2018
  • comment iconNo Comments
  • FacebookTweetLinkedInEmail

    Newsletter

    Enjoyed what you've read? Get even more great content directly to your inbox - Completely Free

    About Theatre Bubble

    Theatre Bubble is the news, review and blogging site created by Blue Pie Media and run by a dedicated team of outstanding editors and writers: we're always looking for new contributors - to find out more click here.

    Contact Us

    News: news@theatrebubble.com
    Reviews: reviews@theatrebubble.com
    Website: webmaster@theatrebubble.com

    Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2022 · Blue Pie Media

     

    Loading Comments...
     

      Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

      Email sent!