• Review For Us
    • In London or across the UK
    • at Edinburgh Fringe
  • List Your Show
  • Advertising
  • Musicals
  • Plays
  • Ballet & Dance
  • Previews
  • First Look
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
    • West End
    • Off-West End
    • Regional & Tours
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Tickets
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
  • Edinburgh Fringe 2025
    • Edinburgh Fringe News
    • Edinburgh Fringe Previews
    • Edinburgh Fringe Interviews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
    • West End
    • Off-West End
    • Regional & Tours
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Tickets
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
  • Edinburgh Fringe 2025
    • Edinburgh Fringe News
    • Edinburgh Fringe Previews
    • Edinburgh Fringe Interviews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
No Result
View All Result
Home Reviews

Review: I Think We Are Alone at King’s Theatre Edinburgh

by Joe Hunter
February 18, 2020
Reading Time: 4 mins read
I Think We Are Alone Review

I Think We Are Alone Review

Pioneers of physical theatre, Frantic Assembly, are currently celebrating their 25th year as a company by introducing their latest project, I Think We Are Alone, to the world. A love letter to human connection, intimacy in it’s countless manifestations and the varying impacts they each have the potential of having on people as individuals and relationships. The dark, comedic and ambitious show asks several bold questions about grief, loss, loneliness, identity, social media & isolation (to name a few) within two hours and ten minutes and is currently running at The King’s Theatre in Edinburgh from Tuesday the 18th to Saturday 22nd February 2020.

Frantic Assembly has spent the last 25 years earning their place at the top of the mainstream theatre company food chain by pushing physical boundaries to answer the hardest questions, be this questions about post-traumatic stress disorder in soldiers at war, the social and internal intricacies of asberger’s syndrome, the complexities of transgender dysphoria, as well as so many others, with an unparalleled level of sensitivity and effectiveness, as well as a notable effortlessness. Unfortunately, it’s disappointing to see that the company raise even more questions in their attempts to answer the ones that the premise presents, through a series of unengaging characters, disappointing anticlimaxes and cliché dynamics.

Sally Abbott’s script does have a few undeniable moments of tenderness and charisma and endearing curiosity when exploring the themes of grief and isolation, however these are drowned by it’s overwhelming self-indulgence and thematic snowballing that never really seems to serve the initial purpose of the piece, nor does it ever seem to stop. While it is laced with honest examples of human vulnerability, it’s dialogue in what is supposed to be its most urgent and engaging scenes is similar to that of a soap opera, effectively going in one ear and out the other, not offering any insight on it’s themes that haven’t already been said before and better.

       

Scott Graham and Kathy Burke’s direction of I Think We Are Alone is absolutely slick and stylish, charging through sequence after sequence with ease and rhythm. The piece always maintains momentum, regardless of how often the script droops in urgency, through minimalistic ensemble work and physicality. However, the sequences are so minimalistic that they don’t feel enough to warrant the same praise that the company’s previous work has, and feel like they are merely there for decoration than to enhance and accentuate it’s objectives.

The six-piece ensemble give the best possible performances of these half-baked characters that the script offers them. Chizzy Akudolu particularly shines as Josie through her comedic timing and sensitivity towards the subject of parents living their past dreams through their children. Andrew Turner’s portrayal of Graham is also a highlight.

You mightalso like

Lost Atoms Cast Images supplied by Publicist

Frantic Assembly Announces Casting for Lost Atoms and Return of Ignition Programme

Artemis Fowl The Musical image supplied by publicist

New Musical Adaptation of Artemis Fowl in Development

Scott Graham and Frantic Assembly have built their reputation on creating/producing trailblazing pieces of physical theatre, often unmatched in writing, direction and performance. It is genuinely saddening to see such a landmark piece in it’s timeline demonstrate the general lukewarm atmosphere that I Think We Are Alone does, however still leaves me with the belief that Frantic Assembly will release something to rival it’s previous work in the future.

I Think We Are Alone Frantic Assembly c Tristram Kenton
Frantic Assembly c Tristram Kenton
Polly Frame and Charlotte Bate I Think We Are Alone Frantic Assembly c Tristram Kenton
Polly Frame and Charlotte Bate Frantic Assembly c Tristram Kenton
Chizzy Akudolu I Think We Are Alone Frantic Assembly c Tristram Kenton
Chizzy Akudolu Frantic Assembly c Tristram Kenton
Caleb Roberts and Chizzy Akudolu I Think We Are Alone Frantic Assembly c Tristram Kenton
Caleb Roberts and Chizzy Akudolu Frantic Assembly c Tristram Kenton
Andrew Turner I Think We Are Alone Frantic Assembly c Tristram Kenton
Andrew Turner Frantic Assembly c Tristram Kenton
Simone Saunders I Think We Are Alone Frantic Assembly c Tristram Kenton
Simone Saunders Frantic Assembly c Tristram Kenton
Joe Hunter

Joe Hunter

I believe any piece of theatre, regardless of form, style or genre should be able to teach or make the audience feel something new. That is the true meaning of theatre to me, and I plan to take every opportunity to learn and feel that I can.

Related Articles

Lost Atoms Cast Images supplied by Publicist
News

Frantic Assembly Announces Casting for Lost Atoms and Return of Ignition Programme

Artemis Fowl The Musical image supplied by publicist
News

New Musical Adaptation of Artemis Fowl in Development

Sesley Hope and Tom Lewis credit Ikin Yum
News

First Look: Headlong Releases Production Shots for The House Party UK Tour

Mercury Theatre New Season
News

Mercury Theatre Colchester Announces Exciting 2025 Season Lineup

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Twitter Facebook Youtube Instagram

At Theatre Weekly we give theatre a new audience. You'll find our theatre news, theatre reviews and theatre interviews are written from an audience point of view. Our great value London theatre tickets will get you the best deal for your theatre tickets.
Theatre Weekly, 124 City Road, London EC1V 2NX
  • Join Our Community
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising

Recent News

Spin A Play (Credit Lynsey Nicol)

Spin-a-Play Brings Improvised Chaos to Camden Fringe 2025

The sound of Music Cast Image supplied by publicist

The Sound of Music Full Cast Announced for Curve’s 2025 Christmas Production

© 2022 Theatre Weekly

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Tickets
  • Digital Theatre
  • News
    • News
    • West End
    • Off West End
    • Regional & Tours
    • Digital
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Edinburgh Fringe 2025
    • Edinburgh Fringe News
    • Edinburgh Fringe Previews
    • Edinburgh Fringe Interviews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer

© 2022 Theatre Weekly