The Shatter Box

Stagey and Cagey

The Shatter Box

by James Lewis

Proforça Theatre at the Lion and Unicorn Theatre, Islington until 14^th September

Review by Denis Valentine

Upon entering the Lion and Unicorn theatre space the audience is met with the striking visual of a darkened room with computer screens monitoring heartbeats and other vital signs and with a man lying in a cage.  It is clear from the starting point that at the very least the production about to unfold will be visually bold.

Writer James Lewis deserves praise for coming up with such a bold theatre concept.  Dystopian, torture, interrogation plays are not particular common and the fact that Proforça would look to put on such should be recognised as a bold and interesting choice. 

The biggest issue with the show’s story is that it never quite establishes why the audience should care that there is a man in a cage.  Throughout the course of the play the audience learns very little about him and his depiction (starting angry and defiant and not particularly shifting from there) is not one that particularly draws much empathy or sympathy.  Also, the fact that the show is set in a dystopian future, and it is said that he has done something to warrant his confinement, it is never clear or not to if he actually deserves being in that predicament. 

The way the play is structured results for the majority of its runtime, it being made up of a series of back-and-forth duologues, without the stakes ever particularly increasing.  There are one or two monologues thrown in as well but again the main issue here is that the play does not quite give the audience a reason to be drawn into anyone’s story.  Each character at times offers smatterings of more humanity and a greater story, but none of these ever comes to the forefront and all is left unresolved.    

The sound, lighting and generally high production quality of the stage design is a definite highlight and makes great use of the space and what the Lion and Unicorn theatre has to offer. 

The entire cast gives great effort and try and get the most out of their roles and each scene.  As individual pieces, each scene has its merits and interest can be found in the dialogue and performances.  It is just unfortunate that when combined they do not add up to making a great, progressing story.  Even with revelations towards the end of the play of what might be interpreted as to ‘why,’ there is still no definitive reason to proceedings or why anyone has sat through the seventy minutes to get there. 

The Shatter Box is a commendable effort but is in need of a few tweaks to its story and structure to really make it worthwhile.

Denis Valentine, September 2024

Photography by Ross Kernahan