This is Living, Theatre 503

A touching two-hander comes for a limited run at the Theatre 503 as part of the Edinburgh Preview season. Falling Through Water is a new company to watch for great writing. 

The Story...

Set on a circle of grass and surrounded by candles and cards, Alice wakes with a gasp. It has been twelve hours since she plunged into the river and now she has been brought to a riverbank somewhere between life and death. Her husband Michael appears only at night to speak to her and they spend it together reminiscing about their life together— meeting on a train, star-gazing whilst eating Vienetta, and their daughter, Lily. But neither of them know how long they have left. Both of them must learn to let go. “Because it’s a circle, isn’t it. Just because you take someone out of it, doesn’t mean it won’t keep going.” 

The Production...

Since its inception last year, the play has gone through several readings and different casts. It was originally conceived by Theatre Company Falling Through Water’s artistic director Liam Borrett in response to being set the task of creating a seven minute piece of drama, and through exploring characters, their backgrounds and lifelines. Since then, it has expanded to an hour-long production. “The idea of limited time intrigued me,” he explains, “If you were to stand opposite the person you loved most, knowingly for the last time, what would you say?” He has worked with Theatre 503 before on the play Our House and his latest work Possessions is being developed later this month. 

Actors Tamsin Topolski and Andrew Gourlay both deliver beautiful unsentimental performances. It’s a naturalistic script that has grown organically over time into a heartrending portrayal of short-lived love. This is Living premiered this year in a sold out run at the Platform Theatre in King’s Cross. If you’re not able to make it up to the  Edinburgh Fringe this year, here is the perfect opportunity to catch a play we will be one of the highlights.