Words by Luke Gallagher (edited to avoid spoilers):
Tucked away, hidden from the rest of the world in a section of The Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool, there is a space the public aren’t usually permitted. Within this space, a little portal had been opened. A portal into self-reflection. A portal of breaking down divides. A portal that left you questioning so many things.
Izzie Major is a very hypnotic artist. I have delved into her work and it is so unique, so thought provoking. She dances with the macabre and surreal whilst tackling subject matters I think we’re all afraid to truly face or answer if we were completely honest with ourselves. She faces these topics head on, fearless and encourages you to do the same. It is a very rare talent that I think only she can achieve with such triumph.
Her latest offering is a piece called “The Living Room”. It is an immersive theatre experience that has be co-devised with Piotr Marchewka, Craig Sinclair, Frankie Gold and Mary Pearson. Directed by Mary Pearson and Izzie Major, this was truly something I had never seen before.
The premise surrounding “The Living Room” was very vague. It did not give away any indication of what we were in store for. Details were very sparse. This in itself was done well for a day and age where nothing seems to truly retain mystery thanks to leaks on social media and the internet. Kudos already goes to the ensemble for successfully remaining so cloak and dagger. I thought this was excellent as it made for a more thrilling time. You don’t go in with any expectations, it takes you out of a comfort zone to a point. We are used to going into shows and performances with a sense of knowing exactly what we’re getting. With what was about to unfold, it fitted the whole vibe of the production perfectly.
Izzie and her fabulous cast have held up a mirror to our lives. Will we exist or change the world? Are we happy to just idle by until the inevitable? Do we want to be remembered at all? It is the most sobering and moving message of all and one that we all think of in the confines of our own living rooms yet seem to proud to speak up about. The name for that room takes on a much bigger meaning once you’ve experienced Major’s piece. I can honestly say I have never been so moved by a theatre performance quite like I was in the world of Izzie Major. The performances from all involved were outstanding. So believable you actually forget it is acting. The set dressing and sound design Craig Sinclair had arranged complimented the performance and went so perfectly hand in hand with each other. It really made you feel like you had stepped out of reality for a few moments and down the most surreal rabbit hole.
It was a triumph how these gifted artists managed to address the topics we don’t want to face. Whether that be for fear of the answer or for not wanting to show a weakness, “The Living Room” is such a fantastic way to get that conversation started and to prove it is okay to talk about these things. We all face them, we all think them and we certainly all feel them.
I must say it was a privilege to witness the production and my personal congratulations go out to all involved. It is a show that deserves to be seen far and wide because it shares a message we can all relate to. There is most certainly passion in their work and they have put their all into bringing this psychedelic world into ours. From the imagery of the sets to the first class acting, “The Living Room” is quite simply the most moving and memorable piece of theatre I have seen. The message of the show has resonated with me constantly profoundly. I have been pondering the questions it leaves us with deeper than scholars discuss literary works of Shakespeare and Dickens.
If you ever happen to see that Izzie Major and her wonderful cast are bringing you a glimpse behind the living room door, don’t dismiss it, don’t be afraid of it, take the opportunity with gusto and take a peek inside. I assure you, you are in for a most marvellous time.
Rating: 5/5 *****
