Saving Face, produced by Kakilang and commissioned by Curve Theatre and The Place, is the work of British Chinese choreographer and theatre maker Si Rawlinson who also performs in the production.
This show takes place in an office environment with workers hiding their struggles and invisible illness in the workplace.
Performed by Yukiko Masui, Jamaal O’Driscoll, Lisa Chearles and Rawlinson, the show includes a supervisor who is struggling to cope with the demands of her job and family life, an office worker who has OCD, a staff member who has ended up caring for his dad – who is constantly ringing him, and Rawlinson himself who has an invisible illness.
The themes are explored through hip hop and contemporary dance, acting and physical theatre, bringing to the fore the raw emotions people feel learning to live with their own struggles, masking them for the majority of the time until feelings bubble to the surface.
The dialogue has clarity and humour, which works really well to lighten the mood, without making light of the lived experiences.
The choreography is excellent, with dance being used to express the way the four are feeling, sometimes stronger than words could say.
The stage set is very cleverly designed, with moveable desks and chairs that almost live and breathe with the office staff, telling their story.
The character trying to leave the office with the desks pinning her in, making it seem impossible for her to finish for the day is really poignant, as she watches on day after day whilst the rest of the staff leave before her, with her struggling to take herself out of the workplace, both physically and mentally.
Alongside the office area, the rest room/toilet becomes a central part of the performance too, with many finding solace in there, hiding their struggles, creating a safe place to make a phone call or deal with their invisible illness.
This performance will resonate with many who are dealing with every day struggles, invisible illness, caring responsibilities and more in their own personal circumstances. The production explores how colleagues often keep these things to themselves, until they can no longer hide them, and what effect this has on them and those around them.
This show is really thought provoking and puts into context how doing the ‘day job’ is just one small element of an individual’s life.
Saving Face can be seen at The Place in London 23-24 June.
