Words: Libby Taylor
Image: Kate Holmes

4 stars

Beautiful, is how Glass Child can be summed up. Through a mixed media performance, Kayah and Maitreyah Guenther explore their relationship as siblings and how this has been shaped by external perceptions of Kayah having Down Syndrome.

The standout element throughout is their movement. They bring their own energies to these solo and shared moments, whilst also capturing the depth of connection and trust within their relationship through the intertwined nature of their joint choreography. The music lacks some originality and nuance, but they make up for it through their physicality and fluidity. They cleverly play with a minimal set, which for the most-part consists of five chairs, only used when it adds to the piece; their strong stage presence means there is no need for anything more. However, the reason behind the introduction of a roll of artificial grass isn’t clear, nor is the reason for the physical and vocal portrayal of deep distress at this closing moment.

Nonetheless, the storytelling overall successfully captures how society views and behaves around people with Down Syndrome and counteracts preconceptions and prejudices through Kayah shining onstage and onscreen. The setting for the piece would have benefitted from being clarified, which would have improved Maitreyah’s characterisation and purpose. Some of the most powerful moments are when Kayah tells his own story and it would have been nice to have had more of Kayah taking this ownership, with Maitreyah maybe sharing more of her perspective of her brother and what they have experienced together.

Glass Child
Old Lab @ Summerhall
13:30
6-16 Aug