EDINBURGH 2016 - Review: LAST DREAM (ON EARTH), Assembly Hall, 13 August

Amidst the endless Shakespeares and sketch shows that fill out the brochure, one of the genuine joys of the Fringe is that it offers the opportunity to see works that are more experimental in style.

While Last Dream (On Earth) is not a new work for the Fringe, having toured Scotland since last spring in a series of one-night engagements, it is a rather different theatregoing experience in comparison to anything else you might see in Edinburgh this August.

The show contrasts two narratives throughout, switching frequently between the two. The first is Yuri Gagarin's voyage into space, and the second is that of African refugees trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe. While the choice of parallel stories is interesting in itself, the format of the show is what truly sets it apart. Audience members are issued with a set of wireless headphones on entry, through which they experience the performances of five actors and musicians seated on stage, and an exceptionally designed soundscape by Matt Padden.

The effect of this is isolation from the rest of the audience, while at the same time being brought even closer to the individual performances, so that the slightest breath from a performer or pressure on a guitar string can grab attention. At the outset, it is impossible to resist the urge to slip the headphones off for a moment to see the difference, like 3D glasses at the cinema, though this urge quickly fades as the immediacy of the experience is engrossing, despite few visuals to focus on.

In choosing two seemingly unrelated narratives to form the basis of the story, creator Kai Fischer allows the audience to come to a greater appreciation for both. We understand that both the refugees and Gagarin face great odds against their survival, and respect the courage necessary for them to strike out into the unknown faced with the possibility of death.

The relationship between these two stories is highlighted by moments of painful irony, such as the contrast between Gagarin feeling the weightlessness of space from his capsule and refugees tumbling into the sea from a collapsing boat. There are also hugely effective moments of silence, which stretch out to the point of being almost unbearable, evoking the immense tension before the long-awaited voyage finally begins.

Last Dream (On Earth) makes fascinating use of digital technologies and exquisitely paralleled stories to create a unique and moving experience. A tribute to the bravery of those who dare to take the first steps on a journey beyond our comprehension, it is an experience not to be missed.

Last Dream (On Earth) runs until August 28 (not 15 or 22) at Assembly Hall.

Photo: Tommy Ga-Ken Wan

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