Words: George Young
Image: Alex Brenner

3 Stars

Deluge offers an intriguing blend of experimental theatre, movement, and live music, centred around the theme of loss and identity. Gabriela Flarys is a compelling storyteller who manages to captivate her audience with a blend of humour and tenderness. Her ability to engage the crowd is one of the show’s strongest points, drawing viewers into a surreal and often disjointed dreamscape.

Deluge touches on themes of loss and the complexities of grieving, however it struggles to maintain a clear throughline. The play’s narrative, while rich in ideas and imagery, often flits between different elements, making it difficult for the audience to grasp a cohesive story. This lack of focus can make it challenging to fully connect with the intended message, leaving viewers adrift in a sea of symbolic content and surreal moments. The recurring use of jam, while initially intriguing, quickly becomes overdone and loses its impact. What begins as a novel symbol ends up feeling excessive and detracts from the performance’s overall effectiveness.

That said, Deluge does have its moments of beauty. The comedic touches bring lightness to the heavier themes, and Flarys’ movement sections, particularly those involving a ladder, are visually striking and add a layer of physical poetry to the piece.

In the end, Deluge is a show with potential, offering some beautiful moments but lacking the focus needed to fully deliver its message. It’s an interesting experience, particularly for those who enjoy experimental theatre, but it may leave some viewers wanting more cohesion in its storytelling.

Deluge
Summerhall – TechCube
18:15
1st-26th August