“Burch is a charming personality and more than capable of enrapturing an audience for an hour”
Lauren Aimee Burch describes herself as a post office worker with aspirations of being a performance artist. ‘The Conversation’ is her attempt to tackle the subject of consent in an accessible and honest way. In this one-off performance of her own creation she serenades us, drinks rosé, and opens up to a room full of strangers with profound honesty.
Conversations about body autonomy are always worth having, especially nowadays when allegations of sexual misconduct are surfacing constantly. Burch isn’t here to give a lecture though, instead she builds a genuine relationship with her audience before revealing her own experience of sexual assault. There is no intention to shock or be controversial, nor is she looking for pity. She is refusing to be defined by this experience but is clear it has affected her.
Burch is a charming personality and more than capable of enrapturing an audience for an hour. Her fear of the dark, feelings of loneliness, and love of cats are discussed with lively earnest as the conversation builds to the topic of rape.
The audience/performer dynamic is used to test boundaries very cleverly. Blue Elephant Theatre’s intimate setting reinforces the notion that we are involved with the show and not just passive witnesses. When she invites me to cuddle her onstage I am hyper-aware of whether my contact is inappropriate and how comfortable I am with participating. The stage is empty save for a sagging pink sofa, which at one rather hilarious point two audience members help to inflate as Burch sprawls across it and chats casually with them.
The abrupt ending was an unfortunate let-down for me. After a lovely moment where Burch strums a ukulele and apologises for any discomfort, she turns and walks off the stage. Everyone was confused about whether this signalled the end and this was only confirmed when an employee started the applause. The musical turn was enjoyable but it may have been more powerful to end after audience members read from personal letters she had distributed at the start.
One such letter expressed her wish that we would continue to discuss consent after the show, and on my way to the exit I heard the couple in front of me debating about the technical definition of rape.
There are many voices contributing to the topic of sexual assault, Lauren Aimee Burch is definitely one worth listening to.
Written, produced and directed by Eve Niker, The Dance Hall is a delightful, intimate story about a family going through the sad and difficult period that the loss of a someone beloved always causes.
We see how Jimmy (Jeremy Drakes), an Irish father and grandfather who emigrated to England in his youth, is hurting and fighting the loss of the love of his life, Annie (Rebecca Lee). Theresa (Dorothy Cotter) and Grace (Tania Amsel), Jimmy’s daughter and granddaughter, briefly attempt to reconnect with him after Annie dies but he is a very stubborn man still adapting to life on his own.
The actors worked well, making the audience connect fully with the story from the beginning to the end. Their dancing and singing were well suited to the play and delicately performed.
The live violin and guitar music together with the subtle lighting created an environment of both warmth and coldness at the same time reflecting Jimmy’s ongoing journey from dependence to independence. The Dance Hall is presented as a work in progress so the set and costume design are minimal which in a way works well. It would be interesting to see how a developed set in the future works and whether this would perhaps take away from the raw emotions of the piece.
Generally, the play is a good watch but some of the scenes are a little slow. It is a beautiful story that many can relate to that deals with love, loneliness, loss and learning how to cope. Presented in such a small but cosy venue only adds to the intimacy of the piece. It will be interesting to see how the show is developed in the future. An enjoyable experience well worth seeing.
Reviewed for thespyinthestalls.com
THE DANCE HALL
is at The Blue Elephant Theatre until 2nd November
