Past, present and future are re-told in the classic anthology format with a sci-fi twist, or four, in new and up-and-coming theatre company Linc Theatre's brand new science fiction work.
Sci-Fi plays are, quite rightly, on the rise with the most recent example being the West-End run of Twilight Zone and what Linc Theatre present is a refreshing, geeky ode to Sci Fi by a team who truly know their stuff.
3 out of 4 cast members are also the writers alongside Jade Harrison, and I'm guessing, due to the expertness of this sci-fi show, are all huge Sci-Fi nerds.
Becky Harrison directs four tales from different times and spaces, exploring not only the promised and expected Sci-Fi elements but really surprisingly, and most welcome, the unexpected and genuinely moving themes of grief, parenthood, mental health and gender politics. Whilst I was able to guess all the twists and endings (you can tell I'm a fellow sci-fi nerd), what hooked me most was the truly human and emotional aspects at the heart of each story; a brilliantly clever and genius move in a piece exploring the pros and cons of the advancement and possible takeover of artificial intelligence.
It's all weaved together by Marcus Reeves' brilliant narrator, a gorgeous blend of playing homage to the OG sci-fi narrator Rod Serling and elements of The Seventh Doctor. The second Reeves steps, or rather stumbles, onto the stage you're hooked. A truly enigmatic and engaging performance.
Another stand-out performance, (the whole quartet is strong!), is Tom Mathias. Changing effortlessly like a shape-shifter into each and every role, in every scene he is either holding you captivated in a touching but starkly real portrayal of a grieving man or at the edge of your seat as a victorian doctor getting too close to the dangerous child-killer he's studying (played by a wonderfully unsettling Owen Chidlaw).
Whilst I was ready to comment on the sometimes misogynistic language and sexy-lamp-test treatment of the talented Bethany Staton, it does eventually get addressed. I personally felt 'that moment' (no spoilers) was delivered a bit musical-theatre-y (this is coming from a musical-theatre performer) but it is still satisfying and a really welcome and perfect resolution.
Replay is fan-fiction done expertly. A clever and thought-provoking show about life; human, artificial and otherwise. Linc Theatre are ones to watch!
Star rating: ***
Ticket Price: Gifted by company (£12 base rate, £10 concession)
Venue: The Lion & Unicorn, Kentish Town
Accessibility: On the first floor of this fringe pub-venue, 2 flights of stairs (toilets are also a further 1-2 flights down to basement level), it has no step-free or wheelchair access.
Comfortability: Un-allocated, comfortable bench/couch-like rows in black box pub theatre. No raking so sometimes visibility is obscured by other patrons' heads and bodies.