Smash It Up

Last night we went to see Mr & Mrs Clark with BOSCH and other collaborators, present SMASH IT UP, a work in progress at The Riverfront Theatre, Newport.

We had little to no idea what to expect.

I knew the piece was about the destruction of art, and was in some way inspired by local acts of destruction, but I had no idea what the piece would be.

SMASH IT UP has to be seen. Not to be believed, not to admire it's amazing performance language, not even for it's central themes that threads together something very current and something very new, not because of it's solid digital element or because of the guniune risks of injury taken by it's performers, but because this was one of those rare pieces of theatre where you truly feel the three performers presenting the work to you are void of ego and full of honesty and this beautifully convulsive mixture of contempt, anger, opinion, passion and hope.

The piece raised many questions and challenged my ideas of whats acceptable, all with a sense of humour and a hammer in hand. It asked the audience to take part in acts of destruction, then danced in the shattered remains, it played pre-recorded-video of these three performers standing up for what they believe and facing the very real consequences of those actions. It simultaneously destroyed art and made art that looks like violence and beauty dancing together.

 Steve from BOSCH (who isn't typically a performer), gave the piece a greater feeling of inclusion and re-enforced the idea that if you're moved to do something, you can and should do do it, and do it with a genuine impulse. All three performers totally rocked it, playing these characters that were a mix of authority, pointlessness, security, soap-box and hopelessness.

SMASH IT UP is an important piece of theatre for Newport, but it's central theme and idea has to be relatable anywhere there is private power. It makes a statement about our lives, our government and our principles.

It's not often I implore, but these themes and topics are tackled with such glorious guts, with such anger and courage by people who feel so genuinely about something, and so are DOING something about it. I must implore you to see this show.

This piece of art has been spawned from the destruction of another, and while that feels intentional at the start of the piece we're told NOTHING IS PERMANENT, including the performance it's self.

SMASH IT UP is a work in progress that will hopefully return with fully feathered wings, but for now it's got two more nights at The Riverfront Theatre, Newport.

Tickets for Saturday are apparently nearly all gone, but tonight there are some up for grabs.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS AND TIMES

I mean it, GET AND SEE THIS SHOW, it's important, and it's f**king awesome.

Mucho

Justin

(All opinions in this blog are my own)