The Myth of Escape - North West Tour
Company: Happystorm Theatre/Breathe Out Theatre
Role: Director
Writer: Rob Johnston
Cast: Susi Wrenshaw, Andrew Roberts Palmer & James Jowett
Company: Happystorm Theatre/Breathe Out Theatre
Role: Director
Writer: Rob Johnston
Cast: Susi Wrenshaw, Andrew Roberts Palmer & James Jowett
Images
Reviews
The Observer
'Enthralling from start to finish.'
Lancashire Evening Post
"John Garfield-Roberts, who allows his actors the freedom to explore every corner of the human condition. Lots of excellent one-liners, laughs, tears and modern solutions to passing the time, creates one
great piece of entertainment for any theatre goer. Not to be missed."
great piece of entertainment for any theatre goer. Not to be missed."
Remotegoat
'This three-piece drama manages to keep the laughter coming whilst dealing with serious matters such as terrorism and the unregulated punishment dealt out by an unexplained dystopia, the audience getting only hints as to the state's fascist leanings in the face of those suffering under its yoke... With believable well-paced writing handled with skill and humour, The Myth of Escape is an alternative prison drama worth capturing before it heads out on a tour that's bound to be greeted with a wave of positive reviews.'
The Reviews Hub
'Rob Johnston’s latest offering, The Myth of Escape, in collaboration with Happystorm Theatre Company is a riotous, rebellious, strange concoction of surreal ideas and lofty politic. It’s a bizarre, profound, disturbing lament on the state of the country and an existential howl at the horror of being...John Garfield-Roberts’ direction is delightful and quirky and the writing wonderfully complex... ‘Sum up the world in exactly seven words’ one of the characters asks. I might not be able to do that, but the show is a ‘thought provoking play, with sharp, moving performances’.
Mailout
'This political, dark comedy addresses life’s big questions in a way reminiscent of George Orwell’s novel 1984 and the idea that Big Brother is always watching...Humour and light-hearted chat give brevity and substance to the otherwise preaching and serious nature of the script and really keep the audience guessing. The layered back and forth time scale of the production too gives meaning to seemingly inconsequential moments resulting in a piece that is well-rounded and surprising in its plot...will leave the audience thinking long after the final curtain is drawn. This seven word summation of the world is clever, predictable but above all engaging and leaves you wondering, can we really trust what we see? '
Cultural Shenanigans
'On the anniversary of the 7/7 London bombings and the day which saw a phone hacking scandal bring the closure of the News of the World, I found it quite appropriate to see The Myth of Escape and take from it themes of reality, trust and truth, personal and political freedom and power and control...it is brilliantly and darkly funny – I hadn’t expected to be made to think as much as I was made to laugh. I still have plenty of unanswered questions. Which is just one reason why The Myth of Escape is so interesting'
What's On Stage
'The Myth of Escape is more successful in exploring modern isolation. Although they talk to each other the characters are prevented from making a physical connection. Director John Garfield Roberts uses this aspect of the play to generate a much – needed sense of paranoia and tension. Although the actors share a stage we imagine the walls that separate the characters they play. Garfield Roberts utilises the restless energy of the caged by having the cast aggressively circle around each other whilst never making eye contact – they remain locked in themselves.'