Issy Cory
An acorn still clings to the branches of its oak tree, despite the threat of winter cold sitting on the horizon. Flung off onto the forest floor, Seedling faces a rambling journey as the seasons change. How will they survive?
Using puppetry, song, and a multimedia tech-scape, Half a String tell the tale of this ‘one in half a million’ Seedling whose destiny is to become an oak. We delve deep into the forest undergrowth, back up to Seedling’s Mother Tree, through an icy winter and finally into the safety of spring. The forest sings to Seedling along the way, with music created live onstage to soundtrack their voyage.
It is impossible not to exude with glee for the duration of this tale. As each new expertly-crafted puppet appears – maneuvered perfectly by the three performers – the audience stares up at the live video feed in awe. It is evident that an enormous amount of care has been put into this production, from the landscapes to the actors’ movement, it is all unbelievably cohesive.
Breathe is accompanied by an absorbing score that underpins the entire story. Soaring melodies float across punchy drum and bass beats, with poetic lyrics that consistently enhance the narrative. The forest that Half a String have created is literally making music, it truly feels alive.
The piece radiates technical prowess. Each transition between different camera angles is seamless, each new track blends into the next with ease. There are neon strands built into the undergrowth, a central set piece that displays the forest floor, then the underground, and then is built up into the Mother Tree complete with roots inside. The space changes and changes again, just as nature does.
The kindness shown by each of the performers towards one another is simply a joy. They are patient, waiting for each other before gracefully setting up the next scene. They are charged with passion, loving every minute of telling their tiny story. It feels like being a kid again, sitting cross-legged with eyes wide as the story unfolds.
Breathe really is as the title suggests. A time for peace, for pause, for forgetting about how big the world is and being at one with the little creatures of the forest. A total whimsical wonder.
Recommended Drink: Water, fresh from a stream.
You can catch Breathe at Pleasance Dome – King Dome from Aug 10-13, 15-18 at 12:00. Tickets are available through the EdFringe Box Office
Jake Mace
