Review: SHOWN AND TOLD by Forced Entertainment at The Place/ 31st Oct-2 Nov 2024

Some might say the era of “the empty space” is long gone yet ‘Shown and Told’ by Forced Entertainment defies this notion, reviving its spirit with stunning vitality. With only two bodies on a bare stage, Tim Etchells and Meg Stuart create pure theatrical magic, relying solely on presence, imagination, and an extraordinary commitment to the moment. 

From the moment Stuart steps onto the stage, her presence is undeniable. She does not merely enter; she inhabits the space fully, grounding us in each deliberate gesture. Etchells’ spoken words follow, at first suggesting a narrative—earthy, grounded, and evocative—but soon defying the confines of traditional storytelling. The words move with a rhythm and texture of their own, blurring the lines between language and dance.

Etchells’ language here is both elusive and resonant, forming gaps and abstractions that Stuart’s movement attempts to bridge. Her dance becomes a living translation of his words, embodying an urgent need to grasp meaning even as it slips through. “I dance to practice death.” Etchells intones, and in that phrase, both performers encapsulate the ephemeral nature of their art—alive only in the fleeting moments of performance.

The dynamic between the two artists is richly layered. Etchells’ words, described as “French translated into German, then back to French again,” echo a cyclical process of interpretation and re-interpretation, where meaning is continually sought yet remains tantalizingly out of reach. Stuart’s movements, meanwhile, are both expressive and restrained, each gesture an exploration of the language’s abstract undercurrents, revealing a profound connection between verbal and physical forms.

This duo of movement and language offers a compelling counterpoint to contemporary trends of excess. In a world that often demands more—more effects, more spectacle—'Shown and Told’ asserts the power of restraint. Together, this masterly duo construct a world from emptiness, emphasizing the magnetic power of presence and absence. Overall, this show is a pure theatrical magic that tries to understand this world, defying the conventional rules. 

‘Shown and Told’ is part of Forced Entertainment’s 40th-anniversary season, marking four decades of boundary-pushing theatre that has consistently redefined the possibilities of the stage. Artistic Director Tim Etchells reflects on this milestone: “It is 40 years of pushing, pulling, inviting, enticing audience into a different space – the theatre, yes, buy a different one. 40 years of another theatre. And more to come. Forced Entertainment’s anniversary celebrations continue at Battersea Arts Centre with L’Addition from 5-16 November, followed by If All Else Fails from 19-23 November.