Swim is a warm, tender, and humbling story, based on true events, written and performed by Liz Richardson. In an hour-long performance, she encapsulates her journey of moving out of London’s anonymity with her family and settling into a village up north amidst nature and within a community where everyone knows everyone’s business. Of course, at the centre of it, is the experience of swimming in natural water bodies, like she did in her childhood, and how it affects this community at different phases in their lives, particularly her best friend whose sisters have lost their children.
The metallic backdrop and oval flooring with blurry visuals shifting in tandem with the story, invite the audience to experience this tale which opens casually with Richardson talking about why she wanted to move out of London. Her narrative is beautifully and skilfully supported by composer Carmel Smickersgil who shifts soundscapes, adding some rhythm and mood to the rendition. As the narrative progresses, the characters are formed with Richardson physicalizing some of their idiosyncrasies, uttering aloud their thoughts. The main events of the plot are poetically interspersed with meditations on swimming in the lake with her best friend. Rich in imagery and visceral, these reflections are the highlight of the show. How the water shifts to accommodate the mental and emotional state of the person immersed in it, and in turn, how the person shifts with the ebb and flow of the water.
The entire act cohesively and neatly brings together diverse theatrical elements- live music, personal storytelling, dim lights, and running audio visual but somewhere lacks the emotiveness of theatre. While Richardson uses mime and choreographed movement to stage the different events effectively, sometimes, the vocal range seems flat and less evocative. The pace of the performance often falls into a predictable rhythm and intonation.
An empathetic tale of friendship, loss, and acceptance.
Reviewer: Khushboo Shah
Reviewed: 18th March 2023
North West End UK Rating: ★★★