The Beautiful Future Is Coming

This was an absorbing and powerful evening of theatre. Nancy Medina has worked some magic with a great cast to bring Flora Wilson Brown's writing to the Bristol Old Vic stage.

Three couples and 250 years of climate crisis history combine to bring an eye opening, funny and thought provoking narrative to this play. You will laugh, cry and leave inspired and hopeful of the possibility of change.

The story flows and evolves seamlessly; from 1850s New York where female scientist Eunice is fed up with being labelled a hobbyist and desperate for someone to take her CO2 research seriously. To 2020s London where a young couple's relationship blossoms as the heatwaves and floods consume the UK. To 2100 underground in a storm lashed seed vault in Svalbard where heavily pregnant Ana contemplates the future for her unborn daughter.

Flora Wilson Brown's writing is fluid and beautiful giving the wonderful cast everything they need to bring the audience into each and every story. You are invested in each character - you live with them as their personal stories are inextricably woven into the global climate perspective. They make the audience care.

Exceptional set design means you are never in doubt about the context for every scene; simple but effective throughout with clever nuances of water, light and subtle sound effects framing the dance like quality of the actors' movement.

Use of silence was powerful in places and the juxtaposition of characters on stage and transitions from each period in time were natural, uncomplicated and compelling.

This is a must see! You have until 7th June.

Paula Luke