Eerie Silence Review - 3rd May 2015

Latest Music Bar, Brighton (Brighton Fringe Festival).

Sexual politics is an ubiquitous and trending issue in 2015. Discussing their personal role regarding gender in society is Berlin Theatre Company, with their debut fringe show: Eerie Silence.

The performance is instantly stimulating: there is plenty going on. There is no teasing as it cuts straight to meat of the show, as it is initially clear and sustains striking throughout. The piece examines the limitations of gender, in four different aspects: Sexuality, Beauty, Emotion, and interestingly, Masculinity.

                          Berlin Theatre Company

The moral is emphasised with the eccentrically strange performance art aspects, which leads to some intentionally revolting scenes.  Berlin crafts their show well, by making the peculiar extracts incredibly watchable. They deliver their abstract segments in a somewhat comical fashion, leaving the spectators hooked into all the bitter action that they prescribe. It is like popping a spot and getting some pus on the mirror: You are slightly disgusted, but you are shamelessly impressed regardless - as it effectively leaves its mark.

The performance art in the show is captivating, as it happens alongside a recorded monologue of each performer, detailing their honest struggle with gender identity. There are disorienting moments, but ultimately it is utterly fantastic, as it is performance art with a clear purpose, filled with layered artistic imagery reflecting the ideals of the piece. A particular;y poignant moment is Josh’s monologue, as he tears up an onion whilst discussing how one-dimensional some may demand him to be. It is touching scenes like this which make it such an alluringly honest performance. Berlin also uses audience interaction, which lends itself to the purpose of the show by connecting to their audience. They use the moments sparsely but well-chosen making it unimposing.

Eerie Silence does not have the answers to society’s problems, nor do they claim to, but they raise alarming questions in the age we live in, as they show in their tentative ending. They give the audience an impossible question, but attempt to make the audience solve it. It is not particularly a show I would take my grandma to see, but it offers a fresh perspective making it a tactful and passion-driven performance.

Berlin’s Eerie Silence is showing at The University Of Kent’s Summer Arts Festival on 28^th May.  Follow their Facebook page for details.