What a delightful, immersive, heart-opening piece of performance theatre, with different levels of audience experience. As the audience, we are invited to participate, but only at a level we are comfortable at, if we are not interested then we only have to place the red sticker on our person and that is an indication to the cast not to approach us.
Although there is a minimum level of participation which is actually sitting on the stage at Norwich Theatre Royal, which was a treat in itself. As we arrive and get settled, Sarah, the Landlady, is welcoming everyone into her domain, the pub as though we were her regulars. Instantly she is warm, attentive and friendly putting us all at ease.
We’re introduced to Dick, who is practically part of the furniture, helping out and hosting the karaoke at the pub, he’s helping getting the pub ready for the night and begins talking to us as though we are existing customers. Then the other regulars enter: Sammie, Fin, and Shirley and are greeted as though they are family.
At this point Paul and India have entered, they are the music and yet so much more. With their instruments, guitar and violin, they are both the soundtrack to the performance and part of the performance as they weave amongst the cast.
As the guys in the pub start to unwind from their day, a stranger walks in with his luggage, his shoulders down and without a smile. The music becomes sombre and this stranger Donny, is bringing the mood down with his heaviness. He is clearly carrying more baggage than the luggage we see.
This performance switches between two side of life. Firstly, a fun night out at your local, friendly pub which includes a pub quiz, general chit chat, karaoke and even a rendition of Stars in Your Eyes, with a fabulous Dolly Parton impression. Much of this the audience is included, whether it is singing out loud the end of the lyrics, or clapping and dancing. It holds all the fun, joyful elements of being in an environment with your friends having a jolly night out and forgetting about your problems.
And on the contrary, we experience the sadness of everyday life where we carry our issues, our stresses, our burdens. Here, in this environment of friendliness, we hear the darkness the characters carry as they open up about their fears, their burdens. The audience are also invited to participate, we are asked what heavy feels like, and the responses are heart wrenching. One audience member’s response is one I cannot erase: “Like drowning in my own tears”.
We then almost go on a cathartic self-journey with the characters, asking for help, offloading our stresses as we speak them out loud, and as a group we sing/repeat the words ‘I carry you, you carry me’ in this setting it was quite powerful.
It’s quite a difficult performance to describe because of the interaction and how each performance will be different depending on the responses of the audience. But it is held together by the shifting of emotions, from the fun, laughter and joviality to sadness, the expression, silence, and off-loading. And all with dance elements as the performers were interpreting the emotions with movement. It really was all immersive with every type of emotion going through your body and a reminder that we are all human and we all need others in our lives.
It was a wonderful experience, with both a pleasure and an honour to share in other people’s openness. No wonder Lay Down Your Burdens was nominated for a 2024 Olivier Award for ‘Outstanding Achievement in Dance’ and shortlisted for a 2023 One Dance UK Award for ‘Innovation in Dance’.
For more information about the Rhiannon Faith Company and more tour dates go here.
Photo Credit: Foteini Christofilopoulou