Last weekend we were lucky enough to be invited to go see the one women show with no words – A Strange New Space at the Nottingham city Dance4 venue. I went with husband and my youngest daughter who is 8.
It was a beautifully immersive and magical experience right from the start. Tessa Bide, created show, she shares performing it with Laura Street who starred in the show we saw this Saturday. Laura was totally convincing playing a young girl. She was able to convey with no word so many emotions. I felt such a connection to her and the audience, some moments the fear and loneliness on her face nearly brought me to tears. It was a beautiful, scary, funny journey of a girl Amira who travelled to space encountering different challenges on the way. The parallel story is one of Amira as a refugee having to move to different countries and continents, desperately searching for a new life…a home…a family and love.
The lighting, sound and music was brilliant, and really helped to define the different sections of the show. It’s unlike anything I have seen before, and I loved that it sparked discussion both in our family, but afterwards we heard so many people chatting about the story, what they saw and the meaning behind it. Discussion about such subject matter can only be a good thing. I for one, want my children to be brought into a world of kindness and inclusion and this is a great way to encourage it.
Laura totally had the audience in the palm of her hand, and I for one really recommend you go see A Strange New Space if it comes to a town near you!
Suitable for all ages, this show was part of the Family Arts Campaign (https://www.fantasticforfamilies.com) and Nottingham Puppet Festival (www.nottinghampuppetfestival.co.uk) which we also visited in the Nottingham Market Square this weekend, you might have spotted me sharing it over on instagram and twitter. Fingers crossed it becomes a yearly fixture in Nottingham!
I love sharing things about my city, I’m so proud, and love living in Nottingham. So if you enjoyed this post, then please do let me know, and I will seek out other opportunities and events to write about too.
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