Feel Me, which is written by Jemma McDonnell and co-directed by McDonnell and Kylie Perry, is an innovative and impressive piece about forced displacement. Using an array of styles and mediums, such as music, dance, movement, video and more, Feel Me is a haunting yet intelligence piece that immerses the audience.
Feel Me explores forced displacement after being inspired by a viral photo, that caused waves of shock, sadness and anger throughout the world. The show keeps audiences in the dark about this image, choosing instead to ask audiences to imagine their own refugee as they follow the carefully plotted path of the story narrative. Feel Me does a wonderful job of flooding the audience with strong emotions to the harsh reality of forced reality, yet is careful never to overwhelm them.
The show approaches the subject matter with a keen sensitivity and modern perspective, asking the audiences to remain connected to the performance through use of their phones. The show, using an online live survey, remains interactive and engaging, and requires audiences to place themselves in the centre of action and embody the show. Written for a younger demographic, the show acknowledges how exposing the internet is, and how communication and information primarily takes place online; resulting in this smart creative choice. Whilst this allows for instant responses, it also delves into the constant exposure and screen time, and how this affects this generation's sense of empathy.
The three performers, Beckie Callow, Klara Kaliger and El Solly, all embody various stories and paths of forced displacement, doubling up to antagonise one another. The three performers move beautifully together, and make the complex and precision of the choreography look slick and simple. Often using only their bodies, Callow, Kaliger and Solly, weave together an intricate network of stories and nameless characters that overlap with one another.
Designed by Imogen Melhuish, the show uses an impressive blend of various mediums that compliment each other well to create remarkable worlds around these ever-changing and relatable characters. The show heavily featured projections (designed by Ben Glover and Bella Meyersohn), which included pre-recorded slides and videos, also a live stream of footage that was filmed live. This video projection also included the results from the audience surveys in real time. A particularly memorable moment was a live stream of creating the most sympathetic figurehead for society to root for, with bitingly honest commentary about disassociation and grief.
The show's use of movement, brilliantly choreographed by Munya Muchati, is innovative and exciting with the use of video creating ever changing environments and even a small moment parkour. Music and sound (Fraser Owen) helped stimulate emotions, raising the hidden stakes and inducing a sense of fear through the audience. The show also uses lighting (Mat Spencer) to help create these new environments and a beautiful and tender moment of stargazing.
Feel Me is a bold show that quietly shines as it understands the younger generation and educates them accordingly through an emotional and powerful storytelling. The show is currently embarking on a UK tour. To find out more information about Paper Theatre Company's work and to get more information on the Feel Me tour dates, you can follow the link here.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4*)
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