A conjunction of music and theatre

Adventure and experiment are essential if theatre is to continue to develop and here are both, allied to a huge commitment, concentration and a seriousness of purpose.

This is Operating Theatre's latest exploration of the conjunction of music with theatrical performance, this time wedded to an echoing or forewarning computer voice with the sole actor (Olwen Fuere) connected electronically via a multitude of cables to both sound and lights.

She is discovered lying supine on a platform, her head downstage, her face reflected to the audience by a large mirror upstage of her.

"U" (or is that "You"?), she utters.

Then "R" (or "Are") and various combinations of these monosyllables and then "channel" and "entrance" and "utilising" and after that such words as "entrance" and "body" and "secret passage" and "system", all delivered Dalek-like.

And then, it is said, the spirits cannot enter without permission: you have free will.

And as it progresses the voice becomes less clear, more often obliterated by the electronic music, and there is talk of alien strangers and community and more, punctuation by massive roars (of pain?) from the actor.

There is mention of Orion and by the end (just under an hour) the actor has risen upright, arms uplifted, with seven lights outlining the stellar constellation.

Make of it what you will.

This reviewer admits to having found neither intellectual nor emotional coherence: just an atmosphere of loneliness and threat in a place somewhere between cyberia and outer space.

The electronic music is by Roger Doyle (Ms Fouere's creative partner in the enterprise) and the elaborate and skilful lighting is by Paul Keoghan.

The whole is directed by Leon Ingelsrud.

Over to you.

Running until Saturday, April 3rd. Booking: 1850 260027.