Writer: Leon Festinger, Henry Riecken and Stanley Schachter
Adaptor: Groupwork in association with Platform
Directors: Finn den Hertog and Vicki Manderson
When Prophecy Fails is a retelling of the story of the Seekers, a Chicago-based doomsday cult dedicated to the belief that much of the Earth would be destroyed by a massive flood before dawn on December 21, 1954, but they would be rescued by a flying saucer. Their responses to the fact that this did not occur were studied by a group of social psychologists, who had infiltrated the cult to observe how belief operated before, during and after the supposed apocalypse. The study was published in 1956, using pseudonyms for the key players and locations, and this piece of physical theatre adapts the tale in a compelling way.
Groupwork set the stage simply and effectively with a crackling old-fashioned radio, a screen upstage showing flickering static, and period-appropriate outfits for the five performers. One design choice that this reviewer particularly appreciated was the incorporation of supertitles throughout the show, increasing accessibility for hearing-impaired and neurodivergent audience members. The timing of the supertitles was excellent throughout and it was clear that genuine care had gone into this aspect of the production – it would be fantastic to see more shows taking this approach in future.
Religious choral music swells as the performers gather to gaze up at a projection of a starry sky, wordlessly summing up the key themes of the piece in moments. It’s an elegant beginning to a show that seamlessly blends audiovisual storytelling with dynamic physical performances throughout its runtime.
The central figure is a supposed prophet, Marian Keech – a woman who experiences a strange sensation in her arm and begins to practice automatic writing (holding a pen and attempting to let spirits or higher powers write messages by using one’s hand). The performer’s initial discomfort and jerky, awkward movements soon give way to a more fluid, enthusiastic quality as Marian begins to embrace her experiences, viewing them as a connection to something greater than herself. She tries to cultivate her abilities as a medium and soon attracts the attention of former Christian missionaries Daisy and Thomas Armstrong, who are particularly eager to find meaning in their lives due to Daisy’s struggles with intrusive thoughts about disaster and suffering.
The combined effect of the performers’ choreography along with the snippets of contemporary records creates a bizarre but compelling atmosphere – it’s clear that the cultists are not in a healthy state of mind, but the way they experience events is so radically different from how outsiders perceive the same things that it’s fascinating to watch.
The sense of morbid curiosity only grows stronger as an undercover researcher joins the cult. The director’s choice of when to use spoken dialogue is fascinating – much of the dialogue from cult members comes from pre-recorded audio played alongside photographs with redacted faces, giving the impression of real-world recordings from actual believers while the performers physically interpret their emotional and social states. In contrast, the researcher speaks aloud while reporting their observations – and acts more naturalistically while doing so – then reverts to silence and the more abstract, dreamlike movements of the cult while participating in group scenes. The juxtaposition of styles adds another layer of distance between the believers and the non-believers who observe them, both within the story and in the audience.
There were many arresting moments of visual storytelling throughout the performance, but perhaps the most haunting scene is that of the predicted apocalypse: the believers huddle together in their undergarments, waiting for a flying saucer to arrive, out in a yard during a frosty December night as their breath seems to freeze in the air (thanks to a perfect dose of haze onstage). The tension between belief and reality is beautifully portrayed as doubt starts to creep in.
Overall, When Prophecy Fails does a stellar job of conveying its narrative from start to finish. The incorporation of audiovisual content about the details enables the physical theatre elements to take a more figurative, imaginative approach without negatively impacting the viewer’s understanding, creating an ambitious and exciting yet still highly accessible show. It was a delight to watch.
Reviewed on 15 February 2025 | Image: Contributed
The Reviews Hub Score
Ambitious yet accessible
