Outer space and pregnancy are not necessarily two subjects you would immediately connect together. Yet in F-Bomb Theatre’s Float, the space race becomes a euphemism for the painful experience of pregnancy loss: nurses become ‘mission controllers’, the father ‘NASA’, and the end aim of birth the ‘mission’. It’s an ingenious idea, lifting what could become a grim and depressing watch into an engaging, dynamic, yet still genuinely moving piece of theatre.
Indra Wilson not only wrote the show but also stars in it, delivering a breathless performance which ensures the play takes off – pardon the space pun – and certainly does not touch down until the final minute. Wilson is effortlessly engaging, hooking in audience members by offering them Mini Cheddars and confetti, before proceeding to convincingly portray flirting with ‘NASA’, as well as experiencing an ‘aborted mission’ (pregnancy loss). They are pumped full of energy, turning on their own smoke machine, hanging bunting, switching on lights. I felt exhausted just watching from my padded seat.
Yet this infinite store of energy is dictated by Wilson’s writing. Float’s protagonist is one of extreme emotion – shifting from exhilaration at the thought of a baby to grief at its loss – with the space euphemism enabling the conversion of these feelings to audiences in an accessible manner. Admittedly though, as the show came to an end I was left waiting for a hammering emotional punch that didn’t quite come. The space metaphor certainly enables accessibility, yet it somewhat restricts any huge emotional connection with the sensitive subject matter. Grief is certainly discussed, yet only in the context of ‘black holes’, which creates an element of distancing from the character suffering genuine pain.
Indeed, the most beautiful moments come when Wilson is at their most vulnerable – abandoned by the father ‘NASA’ or suffering from their ‘aborted mission’ – Maia Harding’s tender music combining beautifully with doodled projections. It is simple and imaginative – exactly what fringe theatre should be. Float is a breathtakingly unique take on a vital subject, bringing a dynamic and varied performance of an all-too real and emotionally challenging scenario. Now onto your mission: Buy tickets to this show!
