Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
Cast: Adam Davies, Elani Edipidi, Jennifer Essex, Charles Sandford.
It is a dream of many, a fantasy in which the body, the mind, lives on forever. The notion that we can somehow conquer time, that we can endure the ravages of disease, ageing, war and eventual death, and see the future unfold, all the advancements, the hope of peace, the continuing cycle of our offspring with no repercussions, just a state of bliss, the heart endlessly beating, the mind forever wondering.
It is always a conundrum, live forever, but never change, never grow, too few believe that this life is beautiful because it is not finite, that the point of existence is too see everything that you can before your heart tires, before your imagination crumbles; surely the more you live in one life, negates having to live forever. It is in this dichotomy of conflicting emotions that Tmesis Theatre seek an answer in the superbly written and directed Beyond Belief.
The advancements in modern society are such that we are just that small possible step away from having our lives being able to be uploaded after death and placed into a digital synthetic brain; it is the dream of many, it is the fear of some, and one that humanity truly has to come to grips with before it becomes a reality which cannot be escaped from.
The sublime realisation of this unfolding near future utopia/nightmare is brought to life with great effect under the direction of Tmesis Theatre’s Elinor Randle and the four actors who have taken another giant step on from the company’s productions of That’s Amore and Happy Hour; it is a serenade of emotions that grips the audience with passion, the question hanging in the air, do we preserve life by stealing the soul and downloading into a machine.
The physicality of the performance is such that Elani Edipidi, as the downloaded Chloe, brings a lump to the throat of the audience watching, a digital ghost made real, and the love of her partner is tested as grief still holds sway. It is the belief of pain which separates us from the machine, and one in which the whole cast make sure is translated with great consideration throughout.
A marvellous production by Tmesis Theatre, a true thinking piece and one that touches upon our deepest fears and hopes, what is Heaven for some, is Hell for others, a great pleasure to see someone of Chris Fittock’s stature address such a particular demanding question.
Ian D. Hall