Theatre / gecko
Review: Institute, Bristol Old Vic
Theatre practitioner Antonin Artaud once said of his approach to his own work, “I abandon myself to the fever of dreams.”
When entering the world of a Gecko show, you should always steel yourself for that very same fever. You are guaranteed to be bombarded with a soundscape as well as a visual feast that often relies on images and phrases – often disjointed, always emotional.
There are also questions posed. In Gecko’s latest, Institute, these questions are: What does it mean to care; to care for; and to be cared for? From workplace to home to restaurant, Institute shows us snatches of life: the highs and lows, the rejections and the victories.
Opening with a beautiful office sequence that segues into a stunning restaurant seduction, the trademark Gecko style is there from the beginning. Inviting us into the world, Amit Lahav’s Martin has the qualities of the tragic clown – clumsy, charming, whimsical. Switching between work and romance, the dreamlike quality of Gecko’s work is second to none.
What Institute lacks in relation to previous Gecko work (2012’s Missing in particular) is a relentless internal rhythm. There are stretches where the cast seem to be going it alone rather than demanding the company of the audience. We are observers or onlookers, rather than passengers. They also seem to have made a specific choice not to have any main female characters. Is the focus specifically on male psychosis and care? If so, that choice is also unclear.
Gripes aside, the design is stunning – evoking those fragmented, dreamlike images that often flash through our minds or linger longer.
The bigger questions posed about care, mental health and seeing the wood for the trees will have audiences discussing long after the lights go down. What is never in question, however, is the genius of this company. Institute boasts Gecko’s typical high quality and attention to detail – and will also provoke debate and make you look forward to the company’s next outing.
Institute is at Bristol Old Vic until Saturday 8 November. For more info and to book tickets, visit http://www.bristololdvic.org.uk/institute.html
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