Review: Feel Me, Tobacco Factory Theatres – ‘Thoughtful, well-constructed and very enjoyable’

Feel Me is the latest production from The Paper Birds, a theatre company that looks to innovate and amplify the voices of everyday people by using personal experiences and verbatim techniques.

The overarching theme of the show is forced displacement, a subject that has been in the headlines frequently over recent years due to the wars and crises forcing millions from their homes.

Trying to put us in the shoes of those around the world who have been displaced, it asks the question: what if forced displacement happened to you? The key word of the performance is empathy, and what it takes to make us feel for another person, critiquing the methods used in this modern world to inform and shape our understanding of these issues.

The USP of this performance is its interactivity – specifically with the use of phones. At certain intervals, the cast ask the audience to get out their phones in order to answer questions that would enhance the experience. This starts small, with learning the ages of the audience, but then moves on to questions about the piece itself.

We begin with our feelings towards forced relocation, and this question is then repeated throughout the performance to see if our feelings have been influenced by what is playing out on the stage. Other questions include what we would take with us if we became refugees, and what would we miss most about home.

Although it is interesting to see these insights, I did feel when reflecting on it later that some of the audience members felt it was all a bit silly and were voting for the answer that nobody else would go for. I also think the interactivity of the show could be utilised to change the performance more; one of the first questions asks audience members to choose the cast’s footwear for the duration of the play, but that seems to be their extent of our influence upon it.

The production values in Feel Me are excellent, especially the use of the two walls of the house as screens for media. Especially impressive is the short film that acts as a parody of charity adverts asking for support for those in need. The visuals and cinematography are gripping and not something I would normally expect to see in the theatre.

The performances of the three cast members are universally strong, throwing their all into the piece as they deliver monologues, using physical theatre and dance to explore the issues. While some of the themes and messages seem a little obvious, I appreciate the way in which the writing is accessible to all, targeting and critiquing points that people might not have considered before.

Feel Me is an enjoyable and very well-constructed show, with a lot of thought going into every scene to try and make it unique and view the situation through a different lens. The quieter moments speak volumes over the more manic in-your-face elements, but both are necessary to see the full picture.

Feel Me is at Tobacco Factory Theatres on April 30-May 1 at 1pm and 7.30pm. Tickets are available at www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com.

All photos: Will Green

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