Theatre / Reviews
Review: Mayfest 2018 – We Are Lightning!, Trinity
We Are Lightning! is inherently meta from its very beginning. Set in a music venue facing closure, the show starts with the audience asked to wait outside before being invited in by the two main characters.
The four stages constructed within Trinity mirror the four walls of the soon-to-be-demolished building.
Each is host to a different group of musicians: our greeters Joseph O’Farrell and Sam Halmarack‘s indie-pop four-piece; a teenage band just starting out; a 30-strong community choir; and a brass band complete with sousaphone.
is needed now More than ever
The blend of genres and ages of the dozens of performers show how much music venues mean to so many different people, and why it’s so important to defend the likes of the Thekla against the threat of developers.
We Are Lightning!’s most moving moment is the unassuming choir soloist’s monologue. He tells the audience that being part of something bigger is what gave him the confidence to finally sing. The delicate strength of his voice as he leads his group shows how much is at stake with the loss of a space in which to rehearse and perform.
The show’s veracity is dependent on the quality of the musicians, and it’s easy to forget that this is a play and not a gig, as music and theatre are intrinsically interwoven throughout the hour-long experience. From Sam’s Grizzly Bear-esque vocals to the security guards’ metal guitar solos, there is some excellent musicality on show.
As all four groups collaborate in the final song, the role of music as an important and vital force that brings people together is hammered home. It shows that community is made up of much more than the buildings that host it.
We Are Lightning! skillfully blends humour and music to show that enthusiasm and tenacity will always prevail against the odds.
We Are Lightning! continues at Trinity on Thur, May 17 and Fri, May 18 as part of Mayfest. For tickets and more information, visit www.mayfestbristol.co.uk/shows/we-are-lightning
Read more: Preview: Mayfest 2018
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