#What You Sayin' Sparkfest Charlie Cocker Kirra Robertson Lion and Unicorn Review

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WHAT YOU SAYIN? Lion and Unicorn Theatre 25 July and 26 July 2018 Part of Sparkfest ‘An inventive and delightfully funny imagining of the mind and its conflicts.’ ★★★ One mind, and yet many voices. A constant discourse of hopes and fears, joys and sorrows, anxiety and, well, singing. Whether it’s the latest chart single or an annoying jingle, the daily goings on of the human mind can be just as much about tunes as tumult, and WHAT YOU SAYIN’? presents both in a production that brings this exact internal hubbub alive. WHAT YOU SAYIN? combines tight choreography, expressive dance, spoken word and song to represent the mind’s thoughts. The multitude of ‘voices’ that make up a day’s thinking are given human form by Charlie Cocker and Kirra Robertson, who bring sound, form and movement to a brain’s inner workings. The humour is superbly pitched, as both performers play out the thought processes that accompany the awkward mundanity of life – from nervously arranging a date to forgetting someone’s name in the street. To this end, Charlie and Kirra display impressive comedy chops – mimicking and playing off each other with agility, timing, and infectious energy – no mean feat during such punishingly hot conditions! Regrettably, WHAT YOU SAYIN? does miss the opportunity to delve beyond its tantalising premise. There are several moments which suggest a deeper discussion about obsessive behaviours, neuroses, and depression, but these themes are only really hinted at. For example, the rubbish littering the stage that both actors feel obligated to tidy was an excellent touch – suggestive of the ways we try to ‘tidy’ unpleasant or unhelpful thoughts from our minds. However, the action is never quite explained nor resolved, and functions more to break up the action than as an insight into cognitive behaviour. WHAT YOU SAYIN? is an inventive and delightfully funny imagining of the mind and its conflicts. The mesh of creative styles and the exuberant ambition of its performers is exhilarating, even if its deeper meaning remains unsaid. Reviewer Alex Hayward is a playwright, poet and author of short fiction. Raised in the West Country, Alex moved to London to pursue an MA in literature at Queen Mary University of London and has not left since. His plays deal with themes of nationalism, trauma, and the limits of idealism.