Come in, sit down, thank you for coming. You might find the seats over there a little more comfortable. Never have I been welcomed into a production with such attention from the performers themselves. But then, Attempt 3.4 is a difficult one to pigeonhole, and could almost be a live art installation rather than theatre.
Present Attempt are a small group of actors, recently graduated from a Masters course in Theatre Practice from Central School of Speech and Drama (London). Their approach to devising new work is far from traditional, with a non-linear structure focused more on moments and feelings, rather than narrative.
The style reminds me somewhat of American group 'The TEAM'; in particular their 2005 production 'A Thousand Natural Shocks' (C Venues). While similar in tone and aesthetic, Present Attempt have created a work that has more focus and clarity. The audience join the performers within the four walls for their space, but while this is intimidating at first, it allows for a real connection to be made. Our presence in the theatre is constantly acknowledged - there's no pretending.
Attempt 3.4 is about building a city. Everything that exists in and around the bricks and mortar of urban life. The actors neatly compare the structure to that of an A-Z street map. Where roads continue backwards and forwards around the book, as you reach the edge of a page. Scenes are kept to strict time limits by an on-stage technician, I have a timer and a bell to keep everything to schedule. Think of me as a Project Manager. In this way, there is the constant feeling that you are snatching at scenes, taking in as much as you can in the allocated time limit. Thankfully, the piece avoids feeling rushed. There are some wonderfully touching images and descriptions.
He started measuring distance in chocolate bars
The same boring journey to work or to the shop is suddenly more exciting when the distance equates the time taken to eat a Mars bar. To leave off the description of the piece this way would, however, be misleading. Attempt 3.4 is not for the faint-hearted. Where one moment you'll peruse an intriguing idea, the next you're hit with a brash scream, a striptease, or a drunken dance. This is hard, thrilling, sexy, manic, involving stuff.
The group use their space well. Despite the confined stage, their movements are free and they adapt a select number of construction-themed objects to create a multitude of situations.
This is total theatre. Fresh, brave and all-consuming. Look out for this one on the awards lists this year.
