š Little Murmur
š The Drum, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Royal Parade, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 2TR
š Monday 7th October 2024
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MOVING AND MEMORABLE
Beautiful and profound, LITTLE MURMUR is currently playing in The Drum at Theatre Royal Plymouth where I was invited along to watch. The show is targeted at children, schools and families so I was expecting something entertaining but without any real depth but I couldn't have been more wrong.
The piece follows the struggles and challenges of someone living with dyslexia and is loosly based on the real-life experiences of the show's creator Aakash Odedra. Aakash couldn't spell his own name until he was 21 and in this piece we follow his journey to find the missing 'A' in his name and his voyage of self-expression.
Subhash Viman Gorania who performed the piece was thoroughly engaging from the start and the show was a real treat for the senses, combining exquisite dance, glorious visuals and clever video projections. Developed in collaboration with the British Dyslexia Association LITTLE MURMUR is a real multi-sensory feast.
The level of performance from Subhash was astonishing. Every movement had a purpose and a meaning, moving the narrative forward and captivating the audience more and more. There was an overwhelming feeling of honesty as he effectively poured his heart out on the stage. It was so engaging that you began to share his emotions which was extremely powerful and moving.
The fluidity of his movements added to the sublime perfection of his performance as did his spellbinding spins, and the imagery he created with his body alone has to be seen to be believed.
The performance was elevated into the stratosphere by the unique way that the projections were used. With spot on timing, the synchronicity between the projections and on-stage performance were simply breathtaking and had a magical quality about it. With Subhash performing both in front and behind the projections, I didn't even want to blink in fear of missing the beauty that was unfolding in front of me.
There was a circle of fans surrounding Subhash, and he never once ventured outside of them. They seemed to create a safe space for him which kept everything contained and in some ways raised the meanings even more, especially the neurodivergent aspects of his personality which were represented with divine realism. After a recent experience I have had, I found a real connection with this side of his performance which really made me think.
The fans came into their own as the performance progressed and created glorious visuals with sheets of paper flying in a cyclone which just added to the optical delight that is LITTLE MURMUR.
Full of hypnotic moments, this show is a triumph and is engaging for children and adults alike. Never losing its way or central narrative, the piece achieves its goal and creates a wonderful dialogue between audience members and leaves you with a plethora of thoughts and emotions. I'm still thinking about it today and it will stay with me for a long time.
With its final performance in Plymouth tomorrow, there's not long left to catch LITTLE MURMUR so click here now for your chance to see this visually satisfying production.
Neill Kovacic-Clarke
All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one reviewer.
My ticket for this performance of Little Murmur was gifted by the Theatre Royal Plymouth who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given.
RUNNING TIME (approx):
45 minutes, with no interval
SENSORY NOTICE & CONTENT WARNINGS:
Flashing lights; Strong visual stimuli; Haze; Loud music and noise
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