Review: Seeds of Memories, Alma Tavern & Theatre – ‘A deft analysis on the loss of a loved one’

Grief and puppets, outside of Disney’s Pinocchio, tend to be seen as mutually exclusive. However, in combining the art of puppetry and poetry, Seeds of Memories, presented by Black Hound Productions, succeeds in providing the audience with a deft analysis on the loss of a loved one, all through the eyes of a young man and the words of a woodland nymph.

Opening in self-assured verse, Seeds is the story of a young man simply named A (Oliver J Edwards) and his loving relationship with his ageing grandfather (voiced aside by Edwards also). Introducing A as a child in the opening sequence provides the audience with context for the unique bond the two individuals share.

The narrative takes place within a beautifully detailed garden, a setting in which the excitable youth finds a welcome home amongst the fairy lights and green vines, woven around a series of wooden boxes.

As the wonderfully British relationship between the pair is presented, the audience can find respite in time-honoured traditions; from saluting magpies to slipping bank notes over in a handshake.

Introductions to Mum and Nan (Lesley Hayes), as well as the omnipresent looming of a woodland creature known inconspicuously as Nature (Lisha Allen) help to paint a world that – despite its fantastical features – is likely reminiscent of many people’s childhoods.

As the story progresses and both men age, it is the brief interlude of the aforementioned puppets that allow this already delicate piece to enter its own unique space.

Performed by all three cast members interchangeably and accented by beautiful lighting changes, the production makes good use of the small theatre space to create a warm and enticing environment for a brilliantly designed puppet of the grandfather figure to tend to his miniature garden.

As sweet as this sounds, it is here that the performance takes an expected yet nonetheless emotional shift. Replacing the lightness of youth, the audience finds their protagonist in the midst of grief for a relationship so carefully presented in such a short amount of time.

What follows is the processing of this grief by the talented lead Edwards, who handles complex feelings in a simultaneously realistic yet nuanced fashion.

Less restrained productions would have A crying and punching his fists at the sky after the loss of his grandfather, but instead writer/director Patrick Withey trades cliché for silence. It is in such quiet space that the audience is allowed to empathise with A and his mother, who simply states that she can’t believe she has really lost her dad.

This naked emotion and openness allow for the further integration of the Nature woodland creature, although the inclusion of this fantastical metaphor does feel somewhat forced amongst the otherwise raw dialogue.

Much like the themes the show tackles, the narrative of Seeds of Memories is left open-ended and ready to grow in the audience’s mind long after the show is over. It is this emotional heft however that may deter younger audiences, despite the show being marketed to families.

But the stylistic approach is impressive, and provides just about as much insight as one can get on something as impenetrable as death and loss. This self-imposed limitation only benefits the production, keeping ideas light, grounded and accessible to the audience.

Coming in at a pleasingly lean 50 minutes, the show’s reliance on idea over plot as well as its short runtime make sense when learning that it is fresh off a deservedly well-received run at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

The show’s brevity only helps in honing in its message of love and loss, and with such a fine combination of talent both on and off-stage, it will be exciting to see what Black Hound Productions have up their puppeteering sleeves next.

To keep in touch with news and forthcoming events from Black Hound Productions, visit www.blackhoundproductions.co.uk or follow @BhoundP on Insta.

All photos: Dave Merritt

Read more: Review: Caitlin, Alma Tavern & Theatre – ‘It’s a remarkable performance’

Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast: