Writer and Director: Cesca Echlin
Looking for Giants explores how people leave invisible marks on you. It examines the lingering presence of lost infatuations, the echoes of people who remain with us long after they’ve departed. The play contemplates how these connections shape who we become or reveal who we have always been. Themes of desire, power, and obsession intertwine in three stories of cat-and-mouse dynamics through the perspective of a cat who feels like a mouse and vice versa.
Cesca Echlin’s writing is beautifully descriptive, capturing the protagonist’s subjectivity with nuance. The narrative unfolds as three separate insular stories, each depicting a different person who left a mark on her: a university tutor, a dating app match, and a school friend. Starting strong, the first story is the most compelling. However, it ends with the last being a little unclear and confusing. There is a lack of plot and resolution which feels a shame when we become so engrossed in her life. But this structural choice underscores the transient and often unresolved nature of human connections. The play’s ability to dramatize such subtle moments of life is magnetic, offering an original take.
Abby McCann delivers an admirable performance, shifting tone with remarkable fluidity. Her charismatic humour establishes a strong rapport with the audience, while her raw emotional depth provides a palpable sense that we can feel all her feelings boiling up inside of her. McCann masterfully conveys the protagonist’s duality, radiating both warmth and coldness, which enhances the complexity of the character.
Sarah Spencer’s sound design is integral to the play’s impact. Pacey musical interludes seamlessly transition between timelines, while eerie echoes draw the audience deeper into the protagonist’s psyche, heightening suspense in this psychological exploration. Skylar Turnbull Hurd’s lighting design is equally striking, employing mist, colour, and dramatic backlighting to transform the atmosphere and amplify the play’s emotional intensity.
Looking for Giants combines exemplary performance, evocative writing, and innovative design to craft a story that resonates universally. Its eerie undertones leave a lingering impression, inviting reflection and making you want more.
Runs until 26 January 2025