Words: Libby Taylor

3 stars

Sanctum of Shadows was for me a production of almosts. The set almost created a convincing gothic transformation of the space, which was let down by some plastic props which limited its authenticity. The minimalist costumes were almost the perfect complement to the abstract storytelling, but, again, the choice of materials limited impact, and I found the introduction of knee pads and dance pumps part-way through inconsistent and distracting. The lighting and music almost created an eerie atmosphere, but dimmer lights would have been more in-keeping and hidden some unwanted fixtures of the venue.

I was impressed by the commitment of the actors to the piece and in engaging the audience. The cast commanded the space throughout. I was blown away by their talent, strength, and creativity during the physical theatre within the piece. Their abilities to contort their bodies, lift one another, and perform perfectly in sync was captivating. The confidence with which they achieved this felt almost feminist in its showing the immense capabilities of this all-female cast. The dialogue didn’t match these high quality moments and nothing would be lost from removing the script.

A production with a lot of potential, but needs finessing.

Sanctum of Shadows
Ground Level at Leith Arches
20:30
6-7 Aug