This year it was the turn of the INKBLOC Ensemble to feature in the Bristol Old Vic’s ‘Made in Bristol’ graduate scheme programme. Each year, a new group of 18-25 year old students are awarded a year’s residency at the theatre, where they can hone their skills on their way to becoming professionals. INKBLOC’s production of Lego® Beach is presented at Bristol Grammar School’s impressive new 1532 Performance Art Centre as part of the Bristol Old Vic Studio’s Walkabout Season.
Working together since September last year, the INKBLOC Ensemble comprises 12 theatre devisers. All are actors, but individuals double as writers, musicians, puppeteers, costume designers, stage managers and directors. Overall, there was a sense that this group loved its stagecraft, which made for some stand out ensemble story making in tonight’s performance.
The sleepy seaside town of Bevill has always been somewhere to drift away from. Everyone knows everyone. Not a lot happens there. But out at sea, a storm has sent a cargo of LEGO pieces to the bottom. Millions of them. When the pieces begin to be washed up at Bevill beach, the locals suddenly find that being on the map and in the news brings a new set of challenges, especially when well-heeled LEGO collectors descend on the town to scrimmage for rare pieces. Bevill is sleepy no more. The locals are waking up to the possibility of cashing in on their newfound notoriety at a cost to their collective spirit. There will be consequences.
As a greater, darker story unfolds, there are some very witty observations along the way as one by one the townsfolk fall prey to the influence of the LEGO bounty. Casey Lloyd, as Lenny the Fish and Chips shop owner, renames his staple dishes after the pieces, the pub musicians Wendy and Maggie played by Alison Cowling and Claire Crawford attempt to write a LEGO-inspired ditty for the tourists, Madeleine Coward as Karen, who runs the crazy golf, begins a fitness class involving the movements from bending over, looking for and picking up pieces of the plastic stuff, while Genevieve Sabherwal as Debbie the dog-groomer is pooched out! Everyone’s in the money, but getting tetchier and less mindful of each other in the process.
While individuals surely sparkled during tonight’s show, INKBLOC’s triumph lay in its ensemble physical theatre. There were wonderful touches littered like the LEGO throughout this piece. Observations of the way the waves advance and retreat from the beach, a town’s collective breath controlled and released, the Busby Berkeley-like use of the colourful LEGO boxes and the extraordinary collective synchronicity of the cast that propelled Rosie to her fate was impressive and created an emotional response from the audience.
Stage direction and movement was imaginative and dynamic throughout tonight’s performance. Backed with atmospheric lighting, original songs delivered with lovely harmonies, and a simple yet imaginative set that cleverly reflected the way LEGO was taking over the town, this was great theatre by some highly dedicated and skilled new followers of the art. ★★★★☆ Simon Bishop 21st July 2017
