Review: HIDDEN FIGURES WW2, Party Geek Productions - CRYPT
Parabolic Theatre’s current home, CRYPT, is hidden below an unassuming church, surrounded by flats and houses in the middle of Bethnal Green. It is not a place you would expect the secrets of the nation to be lurking - but you would be wrong! Party Geek Productions have moved in, and brought with them a delightful immersive theatrical experience.
Before even entering the venue, we are transported to Wartime England, and met by a Local Civil Defence Officer. Well rounded vowels and impeccable 1940’s costuming continue the illusion as we are met by Vera Atkins, who then assigns us each a character (one of 8), all of whom were real people and contributed to the war effort in some way.
Every one of these characters was also considered a minority, either for their sexuality, religion, race or gender. This makes their stories even more interesting (and in most cases heartbreaking) as each character is fighting not just for their country, but also to hide their true selves from a society which will not accept them.
A quick read of the character notes is all we are allowed before we become them, and meet the other Hidden Figures stationed around the CRYPT. During our journey, we learn more about the characters we, as the audience, have inhabited and about the real historical lives of those working for the Special Operations Executive.
Without giving too much of the magic away, audiences can expect ethical and logical conundrums, escape room style challenges and a short, but probing interrogation! By engaging in the production to such a degree, it is impossible not to empathise with the characters, be drawn into their stories and be invested in their futures.
The six cast members all embody their characters flawlessly: Christopher Styles plays an incredibly convincing Alan Turing, and Zoe Flint expertly keeps the piece moving while portraying Vera Atkins - a key female player within the SOE during the war.
One of the aspects which makes this a truly spectacular immersive piece is the design, also by Christopher Styles. The CRYPT lends itself to intimate pieces but the transformation of the space into the top secret offices of the SOE is exceptional in its attention to detail.
The piece finishes with an official debrief by Vera Atkins, telling us who the characters we have been playing really were, their tremendous sacrifices and achievements during the war, and how they fared afterwards - if they were lucky enough to see the war’s end. Photos and spoken biographies of these incredible individuals make for an exceptionally moving end to the piece. Each of the characters has been thoroughly researched and Paul King (both writer and producer of Hidden Figures) has done a wonderful job of making sure their stories are kept alive.
It is rare to find a piece of immersive theatre which transports you so completely to another time and place but with Hidden Figures, Party Geek have managed to craft a production that does just that.
***** Five stars
Reviewed by: Sarah Brown
Hidden Figures runs till January 2023, with tickets available here.