REVIEW: Chronic Insanity's ALL FALLS DOWN at VAULT Festival

‘a highly enjoyable improvised escape-horror’ ★★★★

Chronic Insanity's latest serving of genre blending theatre, sees Joe Strickland deliver a striking one person show where the audience makes the choices in a horror thriller survival show.

ALL FALLS DOWN is an interactive piece about a group of friends trying to survive in the wilderness, after a plane crash. Strickland completely improvises, and has the audience on tender hooks in his hands. The Nottingham theatre company put a playful stamp of their own on the interactive theatre platform. The new venue of The Void this year at the Vaults, definitely adds to the tension and campfire atmosphere. Although if you're claustrophobic, the prospect of a shipping container may not appeal.

Strickland navigates an assured and confident performance and his skill in balancing trusted steward with cunning games master. The audience are instructed to take pieces off a tower of Jenga and this adds to the world building. We are invited to separate, make alliances and take risks to try and escape.

Despite the imaginative DIY approach, you have to participate, to truly get something out of the production. If you're a shy audience member this won't be entertaining, due to the escape room tone of the piece.

With no set to speak of, except a laptop for soundscapes, there is nowhere to hide in this horror adventure story.

Joe Strickland performs a highly enjoyable improvised escape-horror show at Vaults. ALL FALLS DOWN is an exciting pressure cooker of a one person show that puts the audience in the driver’s seat.

Chronic Insanity's ALL FALLS DOWN at VAULT Festival between 24 - 28 January 2023

Reviewed by Emma Godwin