Two video screens face the audience, and a large shower curtain is draped around the stage. This is what Jon Fosse presents to us in the new play Einkvan.
Who is Jon Fosse? He is a Nobel prize-winning Norwegian playwright who has written novels, poems, children’s books, essays, and theatre plays, which have been translated into over fifty languages.
While he’s not that well known in the UK, The Coronet Theatre in Notting Hill hosts his latest work – Einkvan. What is it about? It’s a bit hard to explain. But we see faces on the video screens : a dad, mom, son, lovers, all seemingly getting reacquanted whether they want to or not – it’s forced, not sincere – and there’s a catch. The actors are behind the shower curtain and not once does the audience get to see them acting in person – the show is done via two cameramen filming the actors behind the shower curtains. It’s gripping and a bold experiment in bringing together art and theatre in the same space. It may not be for everyone, but at a very short running time of 65 minutes it’s not a great investment in time to experience something very very unique and different. And theatre itself is large and roomy with a stylish bar.
Einkvan is now playing until May 17th.
For tickets, please go to the website of The Coronet Theatre:
https://www.thecoronettheatre.com