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Lightwork Productions Sarajevo Story
by Lightwork
Lyric Hammersmith Studio
26 February – 15 March, 2008
A review by Allan Taylor for EXTRA! EXTRA!
Sarajevo Story investigates the State Court of Bosnia-Herzegovina in which we are given the voices of the Bosnian people who experienced the fallout of Balkan conflict from 1992-1995. Told through the eyes of Barbara, a court judge, and her family we suffer the injustice of the personal and private, and how our relationships between people can be separate and inseparable. A multimedia investigation, it combines real time mixing of video and sound to emphasise the ‘liveness’ of digital performance. A truly stunning work, Sarajevo Story provided me with a moment like when I first read Martin Crimp’s Attempts On Her Life; political, intriguing, fragmented, but so totally driven towards a purpose that its bits and pieces become part of an interwoven whole. David Annen and Gregg Fisher’s vision of reinterpreting and representing the Western view of the atrocities in Sarajevo highlights the Eastern European plight to which we have cast a blind eye. The acting truly was superb and not a foot out of place for Grainne Byrne. Her versatility and chameleon-like ability sucks us in, as well as the ever ambitious Jonathan Lermit as Jeff. Bella Merlin’s strict discipline as Barbara provides the continuity to takes us through. Douglas O’ Connell’s video design sets the piece off, and hats off to Chris James for executing the mixing so seamlessly. Andy Lavender’s directorial eye sees the piece come together flawlessly, ensuring that it crosses visual media as easily as it crosses borders. Its statement on how we’ve distanced ourselves through technology, yet tried to bring ourselves together paradoxically flags up the notion of emotional and physical distance. Between couples, and in our relationships with those we don’t know, we are no longer close in terms of community, love or respect. Subtle hints of ideas run throughout, like artistic license and whether or not artists are enablers or manipulatively taking advantage of their subjects. Have we truly experienced the real atrocities of war? The scars and repercussions are the stains left on those who live through it. This production really shows cutting edge, state of the art contemporary performance and reminds us how theatre is challenging the boundaries, showing us that it is more confrontational and exciting than a front row blockbuster, but also how we can use our advanced technology to emphasise “in the moment liveness”. If you need a little shake up, have lost your way or discarded your faith in theatre, this is the tonic to give you a hard slap in the face as to how great it truly can be. It’s fantastic; go see it!
Tickets £9 For more info, call 08702211722 Lyric Hammersmith
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