Buckle Up is the brainchild of Mountview graduates Tim Gutteridge & Andrew Hollingworth, and allows the audience to climb aboard the last airliner you’d ever wish to fly with – the aptly named ‘Budge-It Air’. As the audience have their tickets checked on entering SpaceTriplex on Hill Place, we are wished a safe flight and handed a comical safety booklet (which cleverly doubles up as a programme) to get us instantly connected with this fascinating idea for a piece of theatre.
We take our seats in an airline-format, either side of a narrow performing space and are introduced to three air stewards – Lisa, Cressida and the newly appointed member of cabin crew, Cecil. As they prepare us for take-off, we get an interesting insight into the chaotic goings-on behind the scenes of a budget airline – “Toilet Tokens are only a pound each”. Before long, a potential terrorist attack is upon us as Jamie, an actor planted in the audience, announces he is taking the flight hostage. What follows is a farcical feast of fun and frolics as mayhem ensues and everyone is out for themselves.
The production is extremely well-presented. Bright coloured ties and neck scarves, typical of modern-day budget airlines, and even complimentary themed pens! Andrew Hollingworth’s perfectly timid & foolish portrayal of Cecil is the highlight of the performance and Tim Gutteridge adds an energy & forcefulness in his role of Jamie. Meg McCarthy‘s Lisais powerful & commanding and Katie Arnstein gives us a sweet & sometimes frantic Cressida.
When performing farce, organised chaos is imperative and at times I feel that the piece could be more controlled. The Duty Free trolley is a little overused and the audience are often confused as to where the focus should be. Buckle Up is also advertised as Immersive Theatre which I feel could be taken further in future; the audience are left wanting more than just eye contact. On the whole, an ingenious idea for a piece of theatre. I predict this won’t be the last you hear of Buckle Up Theatre Company and recommend you taking a flight with them soon. It’s even cheaper than Thomson Airlines. 3/5
Review written by Ben Thornton.
Buckle Up is currently showing the SpaceTriplex as part of this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival until Saturday 29th August.mFor more information on the production, visit here…
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