Review: … AND BREATHE, Almeida Theatre

Photo credit: Marc Brenner

Grief and loss can leave us feeling many emotions; sad, in despair, and voiceless. But it can also leave us with the ability to express and voice feelings we never wanted to come out. Despite being universal feelings, not every family has the same story to tell, not everyone behaves and breathes in their own personal way.  …and breathe tells the story of Junior, in his early twenties, who learns out of the blue that Big Mommy, his beloved grandmother’s sister and matriarch of the family, is dying with cancer; cancer that she and her son Ade have hid from the family for two years. During a compelling and moving monologue to his cousin Ade, loss, mourning, Black trauma, family bonds, and masculinity are unraveled in the unique atmosphere of the Almeida Theatre. 

Adapted from the debut poetry collection of Yomi Sode, with his book Manorism scheduled for release in May 2022, …and breathe runs until 10 July, punctuated with special performances and a poetry night. 

With breathtaking direction and a creative cast who capture the audience’s attention from the start to finish, the play starts some time before the performer arrives on stage, with talented multi-instrumentalist Femi Temowo going through the audience to take his place at his station, launching the opening note and at the same time, a first glance at Ravi Deepres’s soothing videos, projected inventively against the back wall, providing continuity of the words performed and paired to create a unique in-and-out-of-reality atmosphere, which emphasises Yomi Sode’s script perfectly.

Sode’s poetry is brought to the stage by the exceptional David Jonsson. “Seul en scène” for one hour, he gives life and breath without cut breath, navigating through many emotions and situations, with a confident and sincere presence all along. Expertly going through the range of characters’ voices, in addition to Junior’s one, but also with a physical language to echo each of them with choreography, bringing joy and tears to the audience when impersonating his aunties and uncle, but also Junior’s reminiscences and painful memories. Oscillating through pain, anger and sadness, the play also comes with playful and powerful moments, with Jonsson’s stupefied ability to create a shared sense of intimacy with the audience, looking at everyone, bringing humour and seriousness truthfully.

Masterly directed by Miranda Cromwell, the other impact of the play is revealed by a functional stage design, which allows Jonsson to fully occupy the stage and to let sound and video projection design to coincide ingeniously. The set has composer Femi Temowo’s onstage mixing desk at the back, whose music accompanies and sublimates Sode’s words and Jonsson’s performance, heightening at some moments, bringing charm and humour at others. When Big Mommy is in her final moments, a string of the guitar is performing a heartbeat; when Junior thinks back to his childhood in Nigeria or his “tetris” in the tube during rush hour, lighter sound and music accompanies him. Using guitars, keyboards and drums, composer Temowo takes care of the performance tone and the onstage duo between musician and actor is pleasant to witness. There is a connivance, with a glance, a smile, and a joke between the two of them.  

Lighting designer Paule Constable’s lighting and Ravi Deepres’s video design work together as well: video projections illuminate the back wall with wood and sea wave landscapes, given the ethereal illusion of a set in motion and create this serene and revere atmosphere, like a confession room. 

Full of anecdotes, introspection and soul-searching, this one-man-play can appear extremely personal but it can also appear extremely fundamental to the audience. And if audience members, during or after the play, end up thinking about which family members, friends, and relatives need to listen and understand Yomi Sode’s powerful words, let them come and find a way to breathe at the same tempo.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Alexia Irene 

To book tickets for …and breathe, please click here.