by Diana Miranda
It’s usually mentioned that the abdomen is the physique’s second mind. Supposedly, that pulling vitality inside our intestine – the factor we name instinct – is not any woo-woo idea. This is actually true in Ariana Xeno’s debut present, Stomach, which unravels the intertwined narratives of three ladies navigating environments that threaten their psychological and bodily well being.
Set towards the backdrop of physician’s appointments – a ready room with a water cooler and three lined-up chairs – this three-hander tragedy is a visceral rollercoaster of feminine relationships the place the physique turns into a battleground for intuition, hope, and resilience. The outcome? A narrative that’s as haunting as it’s heartening.
Stomach One (Annabel Gray) is in a relationship that feels off, however she hides the reality from her watchful mom. Stomach Two (Maya Loveday) is battling an consuming dysfunction, rallied by her no-nonsense greatest mate. Stomach Three (Vigs Otite) is pregnant and uncertain of her subsequent transfer, her sister standing by her as she goes from clinic to clinic. A mix of dialogue and spoken phrase, Xeno’s storytelling digs deep into the emotional core of every character. She sprinkles in lyrical, repetitive traces that ricochet by way of the air, anchoring and weaving a narrative that attracts the viewers into the ladies’s struggles with an depth that’s onerous to shake.
Gray, Loveday and Otite ship powerhouse performances that maintain our consideration tightly, every respiration life into their characters with each humour and sorrow. Their fast transitions between tales really feel seamless, making a fluid narrative that merges particular person experiences right into a collective story.
To reinforce the gripping environment, sound and light-weight design (soundscore by Bluegirl) add wealthy layers to the actors’ actions. Whether it’s a automotive rushing down the highway, a frantic exercise, or a disturbing tub, these components swiftly transport us from beat to beat and punctuate the vitality shifts. A timeline projection provides a easy but sensible contact, too, pumping up the intrigue and serving to us navigate the play’s emotional journey.
Stomach is a bit that, if allowed, will get underneath the pores and skin. In the air-tight black field of Camden People’s Theatre, the air might be lower with a knife. Laughter offers strategy to discreet fingers wiping away tears and a collective holding of breath because the story reached its peak – a testomony to the present’s uncooked honesty. At its core, Stomach gives solace by way of a message of sisterhood, emphasising the hope and resilience present in household, pals, and, if we concentrate, strangers.
This debut marks Ariana Xeno as a playwright and director to control – somebody who is aware of the best way to mirror the aches of the physique and thoughts with a fascinating pen and easy, summary staging. Stomach doesn’t shrink back from the tough realities of life in a feminine physique – the abuse it might endure, sure, but in addition how we could reclaim company over it, hearken to it, and look after it. It’s a lyrical, chopping piece that confronts darkness however handles it with a easy contact.
Stomach runs by way of 13th August.
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