No One

Having fun with the theatrical possibilities of invisibility is as old as theater itself. With an ‘invisible man’ on stage objects can fly and any brawl has so much more possibility. Here, Akimbo Theatre has done wonders doing just that, taking HG Wells’ The Invisible Man, with its themes of invisibility, violence and prejudice making it bang up to date. Characters are immersed in our everyday digital existence, phones are seldom far away, and the action is often fast-forwarded or rewound as if we’re trying not to miss a bit on our box-set binge. The piece is clever and hip but also, crucially, has heart.

Using a wonderfully rubber-limbed cast of five it follows Thomas Marvel who is being investigated by the police as he has accidentally befriended an invisible man called Griffin, which has caused some consternation. Set in a West Country town of Wellstone we ponder whether Griffin truly exists. Or is he perhaps the embodiment of our collective dark side? To this end Pierre Moullier is perhaps a bit too fresh faced for this role but his boyish charm comes to the fore when smitten by American girl Mia. The cast all look 20something (as it appears do most of the audience) and because of this the piece zings with a youthful energy which is contagious.

The 7 strong (5 performers) troupe who make up Akimbo Theatre formed it in 2021 at the world-renowned physical theater school, École Internationale de Théâtre Jaques Lecoq in Paris. They’ve since made a splash at the Edinburgh and Oslo festivals and are on their way. They blend storytelling and physical theater with martial arts, clowning and magic. They’re a very diverse group internationally and devise all their own work.

Occasionally the plotting might go awry and their accents may wobble but it’s made up for by their deft talents at unleashing intense physical movement, be it brawling, horse play, just putting on trackie bottoms, or in one highlight executing a witty ballet of flying pizza boxes. Achieving all this in a typically intimate black box studio theater, like here at Omnibus, is all the more impressive.

Norwegian Halvor Schultz brings a quirky ambivalence to Marvel, the central protagonist, and is affecting as a man pulled in many directions, sometimes literally. In a great ensemble, Owen Bleach too brings great presence and versatility to a number of roles, and this all being set at a pub quiz night - there’s even a live DJ on stage throughout, and great use of sound design. There is no set, but with a flying cast who are as personable and engaging as this who needs it?

Omnibus Theatre, which hosts this show, is really making its mark and the venue is top class with a great café/bar and very welcoming staff. Their rich program of work for Spring rich program of work for Spring can be seen at www.omnibus-clapham.org

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