Review: TO MOVE IN TIME, Birmingham Rep

Photo credit: Hugo Glendinning

‘If I could travel in time...’ The contemplative nature of To Move In Time brings the audience into a hypnosis of existentialism, raising questions of the ethics and possibilities of time travel. This Tim Etchells and Forced Entertainment piece brings a new perspective to this classic debate.

Associate Artist Tyrone Huggins intrinsically collates each view on what somebody would do if they could travel in time through a perfect performance of contemplation and curiosity. Huggins has an entrancing vocal ability that leaves the audience in a daze and lost in the perspectives raised during the piece. His ability to evoke spectator cogitation is unmatched and audiences are bound to leave with Huggins’ performance imprinted in their memory.

For a solo piece, Huggins takes full control of his spotlighted area, owning his stature and confidence. Whilst the stage is drawn out with a circle of white cue cards, and Huggins reflective pauses often allow time for him to pick up his thought train, at points, the cues become an obvious drop from the energy of the piece, losing a lot of this controlled chaos with a flailing search for the next point.

Jim Harrison’s lighting is also to be noticed. Whilst discrete, his subtle changes, opening up and closing the space, really add to the performative nature of the monologue. More intense moments are contained with a tight spotlight, whilst more freeing thoughts are surrounded with a gentle blue wash. These decisions really support the total theatre elements of the show.

Taking a brief turn away from Forced Entertainment’s unleashed chaotic nature, To Move In Time is a poignant, contemplative piece that involves its audience in its personal thought process. A positive pause in time to evaluate the ethics of society.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Harley Keasey

To Move In Time plays at Birmingham Rep until 24 May, with further info here.