Every time I recall this show, the nightmares return. See it. Seriously, see it. I don’t want to be alone in my horror any more. Was it any good? I have no idea! Just see it. Three figures congregate in a dark house and perform demonic rituals: to what end? I have no idea! Just see it. It strikes me that the performance of these rituals is the be-all and end-all of the production and I have to say it is incredibly compelling. Mysterious, hypnotic, surreal, I couldn’t conceive of the words to describe Tourniquet 2013 and had to ask my colleague to come up with them: it’s like being skull-screwed by an enigma.
Delivered sans dialogue, accompanied by a throbbing, trance-inducing soundtrack, the show felt as if it was putting some dark spell on me. As much as I may have wanted to look away, it was physically impossible. Strangely beautiful yet utterly harrowing, the images - for better or for worse - shall be burnt into my mind forever. Never have I felt so voyeuristic: the characters perform their rituals like clockwork - they are clearly experts - but what we can learn stops there. Who are they? What are they doing? Why are they doing this? Oh God, why? I had the distinct sensation that I should not have been privy to the events of that night.
That said, there is the odd occasion where the bizarre scenes begin to verge on the ridiculous: the rare smattering of giggles was not always as a result of the deliberate dark humour. Alienation can be a double-edged sword - voyeuristic one moment, faintly ridiculous the next. Such moments were fleeting, however, and quickly forgotten as the next horrific onslaught brutally assaulted my senses.
I left shaken and disturbed. I certainly didn’t enjoy myself but that wasn’t really the point. All I can say is that this is an ‘experience’ and that you should book tickets right now. Then hug me. Please.
