Alone is a sci-fi drama following scientist (Kat Glass) and pilot (Courtney Bassett) on a mission to save the earth from the raising CO2 emissions through extra-terrestrial microbiology. The use of drama to explore climate change makes the topic of sustainability more accessible to the non-scientists amongst us. Also, the feminist themes shone an incredibly important spotlight on the silencing of female scientists in research. This was the first time I have seen a show addressing the sexism of scientific academia and I feel gratitude towards this play for recognising and publicising this inequality. A quick search revealed that theatre company Dusty Room Productions practice what they preach by using sustainable props and partnering with reforestation programmes which makes this play even more impassioned in retrospect.
The antithesis between science and religion under-rooted the play. Whilst this debate was at times played out between the two characters, it was ultimately battled within the psych of the scientist who had both religious and scientific beliefs. The introspection of the science-religion binary raised interesting questions about whether it is possible to have faith as a scientist.
All these moral themes were performed superbly by both Glass and Basset who seemed well acquainted with their characters after three years of touring in Australasia. It was as though the characters were a small part of them rather than a detached fictional being. This came through most poignantly in the longer sections of monologue which were spoken as though memories were being recalled rather than scripts.
Running time: 90 minutes.
Reviewer: Amy Rose Holstead
Reviewed: 10th August 2023
North West End UK Rating:
Rating: 5 out of 5.
