Rewind – New Diorama Theatre

Rewind opens with Andres Valesquez talking to the audience, he is informal and casual. As he introduces himself and the rest of the cast, he gives us some context around the story they will tell. In Latin America in the 1970s and 1980s, dictators and regimes often supported by the United States were in charge. People disappeared, often without a trace. Valesquez dons a white shawl to represent Madres de Plaza de Mayo, known in English as The Mothers Of the Disappeared, and then a blue coverall, the uniform of an investigator for El Equipo Argentino de Antropología Forense, the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team.    

It is clear that Ephemeral Ensemble have a very set vision for the show. Through very little dialogue relying instead on music, puppetry and physical theatre, they tell the story of one young woman (Louise Wilcox) who disappeared and her mother’s (Eyglo Belafonte) ongoing search. As her mother watches home videos, pausing and rewinding, a poignant journey unfolds – revealing not only the story of the young girl but intertwining with the decade’s later investigation of a mass grave undertaken by forensic anthropologists.    

Clothing and bones recovered allow the investigators to compare with records and DNA samples from family members, the depiction of this investigation and their discoveries has powerful and impactful moments with the team giving a voice to the disappeared. A simple overhead projector shows photos and other images, while also allowing for smart effects, chemicals overlaid to represent the DNA tests, and a flickering of the image to represent a paused video tape. A lot of thought has gone into the staging, with much of the light (design by Josephine Tremmeling) coming from hand-held lights, allowing the lighting to move with the show. 

Throughout there is music from Alex Paton and it is spectacular. He skillfully records and loops an ever-changing array of instruments, showcasing truly fantastic work. His music becomes a powerful force, not just in adding atmosphere but seamlessly complementing the performance and affecting the audience. The judicious use of the trumpet borders on the heartbreaking, adding even more of an emotional depth. 

Rewind is absolutely captivating, from a team so obviously invested in the story being told and a sense of such horror at the events they examine. Yet also an obvious sense of pride and admiration for both the families searching for their lost sons and daughters and the anthropologists who seek justice and to maybe bring some small peace closure to families.  

Impactful, unmissable and memorable. 

Playing until 10th February, https://newdiorama.com/whats-on/rewind

Reviewer: Dave Smith

Reviewed: 30th January 2024

North West End UK Rating: