Secrets, Truths and Disclosing them to a stranger

Like ghosts stepping out of the mists of time - instead it is the youth theatre cast approaching our tables from within the inner chapel and altar of St John the Baptist Church. But in the dark with the lighting set just right? It felt eerie yet I was relaxing into my seat. The haunting Russian folk /string music playing enforced that feeling actually enhancing the feeling of stillness that

silence would normally bring in a church.

Kontakt 3 is not your average theatre production: pushing the boundaries of theatre as we know it: there no audience separation and you are right there in the thick of it. Singled out, one per table the ‘audience’ await the arrival of the cast - you are left alone with the music and your thoughts unable

to converse with friends, family or even swap comments with a stranger. In the blurb handed to participants on leaving Philip Mackenzie (Director) asks the very pertinent question of “How often does an adult sit across the table from a 14 year old and have a meaningful interaction or conversation?” and unfortunately today the answer is likely to be rarely; if ever. Not wanting to be clichéd but Kontakt does what it says on the tin, but it explores how we communicate in an unconventional manner: and to provoke a response? Yes.

• The first point of contact between people is eye contact. To demonstrate this, a cast member come and sit opposite you, staring/watching you in silence before moving on and a second does the same.
• Second is conversation: a third person comes and sits with you striking up conversation. Mine, a friendly young gentleman who wasn’t that much younger than me, asked me to tell him about myself and it turns out we had interests in common. Too be honest being of a similar age I wasn’t too surprised yet if an older adult was in my seat I doubt they would expect to have similar interests.
• The third step in this process was a set of cards each having a topic or phrase to initiate specific conversation, whilst this is a somewhat forced way of interacting it opens doors for individuals to open up to a stranger or connect over similar situations. Here she held my hand in silence before the cards, hiding her face – creating a sense of security before the questions were asked.
• In the fourth exploration of communication a girl sat opposite me with pen and paper and we communicated through art, drawing different things on the paper. The end result looked a bit like a child’s drawing of home with a house, sunshine, tree’s and people there were also the mountains of Wales as ‘home’. The music then changed to an Abba classic and everyone was coaxed up to dance: was this the breaking down of barriers now we had communicated? As many people find getting up and dancing difficult (the guzzling of alcohol is usually required in my case)

Last but not least was the ‘interrogation’ as the youngest of my questioners called it – wearing a Poirot moustache of all things, it was a series of probing questions that I had to answer although he was a bit too friendly and encouraging to be Poirot and I struggled not to laugh at the comedy value.

Throughout this process those of the cast who stood behind the chair opposite completed a set choreography that was nothing less than the Macarena in slow motion - though that it was the Macarena didn’t click until after when talking with the other young critics. I was rather unsure as to the point of this choreography initially it did not seem to have a purpose yet now thinking on it each movement was a representation of the open and closed nature of communication: showing open empty hands, hidden palms, hiding faces and arms wide open above heads. Not knowing what to expect at the start I was a little put out by the staring at first, didn’t know where to look and questions like why is she staring? What are they doing? Were running through my head: until I focused and simply stared back. One thing that did make me giggle as well as pause for thought was that on two occasions everyone sat down and the chair opposite me was empty – no one came to fill it for a moment – in those seconds I felt the echoed moments of loneliness I experienced as a young adult and also laughed at being the last one left as usual.

The actors and actresses where certainly brave to keep a straight face complete the piece’s and listen to strangers open up. I really enjoyed the experience and although very different, it was completely worthwhile. If you are given the opportunity to see a production like this go, though expect to divulge your inner most truths and wants and don’t expect to be judged: some are willing to divulge their own feelings and opinions to you to. Think of it as the turn of a priest to confess to the sinner who has been confessing, apt for a church I think.

Kontakt is on for a further day (Sat 6^th November).