As part of a tour of Wales, this week Canoe theatre are back at the lovely Chapter with their production of This Incredible Life.
We’re introduced to Mab and her nephew, Robert, who are waiting for a car to arrive to take them both to an awards ceremony in London, to celebrate Mab’s journalism achievements over the years. It soon becomes clear that the two spending time together is not a common occurrence, and as only Mab switches swiftly between Welsh and English, the audience is quick to discover that Robert has made big strides away from the place that was once home.
Despite still enjoying the power of storytelling, Mab’s memory is not what it once was and confusion has set in, and she recounts stories from the past, aided by video excerpts only visible to her. Oblivious to Robert’s inability to see her memories, the stories and truths unravel and the differences and similarities between the two soon become clear. ‘Bertie’ has his own worries, and with his Aunt as a reminder of his deceased Father, his patience soon wears thin.
The text itself, written by Alan Harris, is heart warming and the writing lends itself well to a wide audience, although the production could definitely have benefitted from being a pure two hander. The alternate actors in the videos lose the chemistry between the on-stage performers, not aided by the inevitable technical hitches, and the piece loses its heart a little via the disconnect, although the end scene is a simple but beautiful cross over to conclude.
This Incredible Life is thoughtful and heartwarming, with a script which is a great exploration of memories, story telling and what the truth is. The companies work with Dementia Friendly performances is a brilliant leap in connecting audiences to their own stories, and this is definitely worth a watch on it’s tour this autumn.
Theatre and Tea 