This promenade production of The Time Machine is written by Jonathan Holloway. The new adaptation has ripped into the original text and the result is wild, original, thought provoking and even confusing at times – but what would you expect in a time travelling tale with surreal and psychedelic elements?
With a multi media approach the production (directed by Natasha Rickman) has the audience immersed in video and soundscapes as they are perambulated through a selection of locations – from reading rooms through IT hubs to high stacked-books storage areas arriving in the basement where archived newspapers are stored – yes, you’ve guessed it – The Times!
We are in cahoots with a time traveller (played with great gusto by Paul (PK) Taylor) who explains the chaos that can ensue as we nose dive through eons, time slipping forwards and backwards and as names get bandied about, there is fun and entertaining confusion to be had.
Along our travels we meet and interact with a range of characters, chat-show host, stylishly played by Funlola Olufunwa in gold jacket and a veneer that gets somewhat cracked as out time traveller tells her depressing time tales in an effort to explain how the world population is going to be downsized by some unknown virus – topical or what? Interacting with Computer and listening to the informative, Graeme Rose was stern and amusing at times, particularly as logging on was so tricky at the start – clearly whatever dimension you are in some things never change! Moving to the basement we come across DRI (Sarah Edwardson) residing in the department of Skepticism, Research and Innovation and she crisply and efficiently lets us know that already decisions are being made to remember, redirect and even replace any retention of the human race -societal palliative care may be needed as the population will be reduced.
So, whacky engaging stuff but all of it is somewhat upstage by the star of the evening – The London Library itself; with a million books, research hubs and cozy reading corners, it is a space that transports us to another time – which it did, at times, more effectively than the play. Certainly The Time Machine at the London Library is unique experience where you can enjoy an historic building while immersing yourself in a whacky and lively version of a story researched and completed in the very building my MR Wells himself.
Creative Team:
Writer Jonathan Holloway
Director Natasha Rickman
Designer Ryan Dawson Laight
Sound Designer Matt Eaton
The Time Machine will be performed at The London Library, St Jame’s Square, from 29 Feb – 5 April 2020. For more information or to book tickets please visit: www.creationtheatre.co.uk
Join the discussion