Not the End of the World

By Robert Iles - 14th Mar 2007

"What happened to Noah’s family when the heavens opened and the world flooded? Seen through the eyes of Timna, Noah’s daughter, experience what went on inside the ark in this gripping play of human endurance, survival, demons and leadership." Simon Reade's adaptation of Geraldine McCaughrean's Not the End of the World was a winner of the Whitbread Award, 2004 and is a retelling of a tale we all know - of which the Christian, Noah, telling is but one version. Here, we are treated to an insight into human frailties, the problems of predator and prey in shared accommodation and a horrendous view of the beginning of a new world built on religious fanaticism, division and prejudice.

The stage has been transformed into a spectacular, suspended, raft-like ark in which the action takes place - James Cotterill's design won the 2005 Linbury Prize for stage design and you can see why. The space is pwoerful, flexible and, at times, genueinely surprising. A high look out tower allows Noah to survey the world from a perch close to god whilst the heavily raked stage with its extreme perspective actually allowed us to see and feel the swell of the sea without having to move at all - quite a feat! With reveals, traps and a flying raft and a final picture with the most incredible on-stage rainbow this staging is a central part of the evening - watch and enjoy!

Eleven actors are accompanied by live world-music from Kurdish singer Nawros Oramarî and percussionist Simon Allen creating a multi-cultural and highly moving experience. This is a strongly ensemble piece from a highly skilled team - pace is kept up throughout and the style is completely appropriate to what is, after all, a story telling. Animal representations were simple and highly effective, the death of the wildebeast calf being genuinely moving.

All theatre should be like this ...
A fascinating story told with passion, committment and skill to a rapt and enthralled audience. What a wonderful evening.