REVIEW: LAY DOWN YOUR BURDENS at The Barbican, Pit Theatre 21 – 25 November 2023

‘the local pub reimagined as a space of collective care, catharsis and redemption’ ★★★★

Artistic Director and Choreographer, Rhiannon Faith creates socially conscious dance theatre and often works with marginalised communities. Lay Down Your Burdens was inspired during lockdown by thoughts of those dealing with extreme isolation. She imagined knocking on doors, listening to whatever was troubling them and giving a gift of music, song, poetry or art. “Then rather than thinking about the weight they are carrying; they might think about the gift instead”.  Innovative, transportive and emotive, Lay Down Your Burdens is the startling result. 

Inside The Pit Theatre in the bowels of the Barbican, the set becomes a local pub with all the right visual cues. A circular wooden bar, topped with shiny glasses and colourful alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, is the location for this contemporary dance theatre performance that entertains, surprises and moves. A couple of the cast wander around as the audience take their seats: “What’s your local like? What would you sing at karaoke?” There are circular tables dotted around with little stools like any pub, as well as more traditional tiered seating.

Six performers give audiences two hours (with a 20-minute interval) of physical theatre, poetry, story-telling, and energetic displays of contemporary dance, all accompanied by the stirring live strings of a cello and violin, composed and performed by Anna Clock and India Merrett. As one by one, we meet the cast who tell their stories, drawn from real life testimonials spanning some hard-core life knocks, audiences are prompted to consider the weight others carry and their own experiences. There is some seriously grown-up audience participation that invites deep reflection alongside super silly games that lift spirits and invite playfulness into the room.

In this high art meets popular culture melange, audiences will experience a pub like no other. Perhaps it’s an idealised pub or an amalgam of all the best locals around the country that as well as providing warmth, booze and companionship exist at the heart of their communities as a welcome refuge for regulars and strangers alike. This pub is a place for catharsis and redemption where audiences can also vicariously lay down their troubles and leave the auditorium feeling lighter, more hopeful and in touch with their compassionate sides. Lay Down Your Burdens feels seasonally perfect and should become a regular pre-Christmas staple, as regular as pantomime, to remind everyone of our humanity, that we are not alone and that we are better together.

Lay Down Your Burdens

Age 16+. Runs 90 minutes (no interval).

Tuesday 21 - Saturday 25 November 7.45pm (plus 2.30pm matinée Saturday 25 November)

London Barbican Centre (Pit Theatre) Silk Street EC2Y 8DS

£18 020 7638 8891 www.barbican.org.uk

All performances are relaxed

Reviewed by Nilgin Yusuf