In 2022 Rowena Gander brought us her one woman show Barely Visible, which explored lesbian identity and the relationship with wider society.
Her new work Woman Women, which she has created, directed and performs herself, feels to be something between a sequel and a companion piece to that earlier show, but this time the viewpoint is shifted and here she looks inwards, considering a lesbian’s relationship with herself.
Once again we begin with a wordless introduction, in which Gander appears manipulating a single, large object, this time a rectilinear steel frame, which will become the anchor around which the movement of the physical theatre will evolve. A sort of simple climbing frame, this box shape emerges on stage with the performer inside it, and we immediately begin to imagine what it might symbolise. Over the coming hour it will appear to take on many roles as it is slid, tipped and rolled about or laid down on its side.
There is more verbal material here than in Barely Visible - a blend of recorded and live spoken words - which are an internal dialogue vocalised for the audience to hear. At times we are made to feel uncomfortably as though we are eavesdropping on a private conversation, while at others we are transported inside Gander’s head to experience her thoughts first hand.
As well as being a physical prop to enable the extraordinary athleticism of the performance to play out, the steel frame contains and delineates a volume of space. Is this perhaps a safe place within which the protagonist can shield herself, or is it a prison in which she is confined? If the latter, is she placed there by external forces or has she imprisoned herself, and, if the former, is it a cocoon of her own making or a shield provided by another? Laid down flat, the frame appears almost like a boxing ring in and around which she spars with herself and her own mind.
But this is a piece made for asking questions, not for finding answers. In each performance of the show’s tour Gander is joined on stage for a central section of the work by a featured performer, who interacts with and her and enables exploration of external relationships. But even this aspect of the performance is very much about the internal dialogue that continues in every waking moment. Despite the very physical presence of a second person, this still feels like a solo performance. At Unity Theatre this is Elinor Randle (Unity’s new Artistic Director, who also directed Barely Visible) whilst different performers will join the show at each venue.
Unsurprisingly, the audience demographic is largely made up of women, but don’t let the show’s title put it into a box. As with its predecessor, Woman Women is a work that explores its core subject matter in a tremendously clever, engaging and open manner, which makes it both thought provoking and liberating for everyone. It is a rich, insightful and frequently witty journey into the mind, and an important examination of the limitations that humans place upon themselves and each other.
The performance at Unity was preceded by a ‘curtain raiser’ developed and performed by and with a group of local artists, in which themes of identity were explored through physical theatre.
Woman Women will appear at Shakespeare North Playhouse on 30th November (2pm and 7pm performances - tickets available here) and further dates will be announced for 2025.
Star rating – 5 stars
Comments
Post a Comment