Written and performed by: Gaylien De Mars
Drag, meditation, yoga and Elton John are combined in this voyage through the solar system led by our softly-spoken interstellar guide Gaylien De Mars. The Flow State Yoga studio in Hove provides the serene setting for a relaxing workout of the imagination that shoots for the moon but doesn’t quite reach.
We begin by visualising ourselves blasting off from Earth in our private starships, which we are invited to name. There’s a backing track that begins with the rumbling of the rocket’s ignition, but the immersive sound effects remain fairly sparse throughout the rest of the performance. The main thrust is that we are using our own imaginations to propel ourselves out towards the planets of the solar system.
This can feel a bit like hard work at times, especially for the more literal-minded, easily distracted participant, but we’re helped along by descriptions of the planetary surfaces, climates, orbits. And there’s a parallel stream detailing the celestial significance of the planets that’s more in line with astrology than astronomy.
As we feel the vibrations of the solar system through the music that Gaylien enhances with choice sprinklings of koshi chimes, steel drums and sound bowls, we’re also led through some simple yoga postures, enough to centre the body but certainly no work-out. The main focus is on breathing and the use of that breath to channel visualisation.
When we reach the outer limits of our journey we’re treated to snatches of ‘Rocket Man’ by Elton John. It’s a beautiful, surprising rendition and gives us a chance to be transported more fully than the directly intentioned meditation guidance. There are many different strands to this performance, but none of them are given enough time and space for us to be able to fully leave our earthly confines.
The most profound parts of the piece are actually the parts that moor us to our home planet: the connection between the moon and the waves of Brighton beach, the poignant Earthly pop songs being sung by an alien, and especially the return to Earth after the trip around the solar system. Even if imagining oneself out in a starship face-to-face with the moons of Jupiter is a lot to ask, the relief of coming home after a long trip away is all too familiar, and it’s taken to a cosmically emotional level at the climax of this ambitious show.
Reviewed on May 16 2025
