Writers: Deborah Pearson, James Stenhouse, Gemma Paintin
Directors: Deborah Pearson, James Stenhouse
Remember that time we all stayed inside for a few months? Remember the loneliness? Remember the growing irritation with our new technology toys like Zoom and Teams and Google Meets, and the similarly bubbling irritation with those who seem to be handling the lockdown better than us – whether or not they actually were?
Co-writer and co-director Deborah Pearson’s programme note tells us this is not a show about the pandemic, but one that has lived through it. That rings true enough. The pandemic is not mentioned explicitly but the piece brings the audience in to the isolation and search for regularity that a working-from-home voice-over artist is experiencing. Through the scripting, the performance and its language, we’re pulled in very effectively, piece by piece.
Shut in her booth, communicating only to a pair of baffling and overly chirpy audio producers over increasingly glitchy phone lines, the artist’s frustration is developed and delivered beautifully through other people’s words that come with the many roles she takes on to keep busy (and financially afloat) while inside. At a point we realise the voice-over scripts are incredibly familiar. They’re interchangeable with 90% of corporate advertising content created in the last half-decade. This makes a bigger point about creativity and capitalism, again outlined in the show notes, that makes interesting fodder for post-show consideration. Ruminating on this element as it evolves, however, distracts from the neat human drama playing out on stage.
Gemma Paintin as the person in the booth (the eponymous “Talent” of the show’s title), plays it to near perfection. She ratchets up the combustible energy evenly through the hour-long run time, not to mention delivering dozens of distinct voices and characters into the mic.
Visually, designed by Camilla Clarke and lit by Alex Fernandes, it’s stark. All we have is the booth, the Talent, some minor costume changes and a pot plant at times – the voices of the producers (played by Pearson and James Stenhouse) are heard over speakers but they’re never seen. Cleverly, with such a clear focal point, the audience is further immersed in the Talent’s world. We experience the challenging conversations with the producers as she does, putting us right in the booth with her, isolated together.
Hitting some sweet-spots regarding the shared feelings of loneliness, isolation, and annoyance at our every conversation being mediated through unreliable technology this is a well observed overview of how impactful these things can hit us. Apart from showing these various emotions, however, there’s not a solidified message or discernible meaning. It turns out to be a well constructed and highly enjoyable journey, but a less well defined destination.
Runs until 20 May
The Reviews Hub Score
Well observed
