Space. Its bloody big isn't it. No, we're not talking about that big vacuous arena passed the clouds that at one time found itself playing host to Will Smith and rubber-faced Goldblum. We're talking about the space all around us, the city space, the building space, the occupied and the unoccupied space. Or, more specifically, we are talking about the places that call themselves 'theatre space'. Are we on the same page now?
There is no getting away from the importance of the space in which a production is placed. Both physically and socially it can influence change the shape of the piece, restrictions that are put in place - ie an actor can only walk as far as the stage allows him unless he's planning on doing a David Blaine and floating off into the distance - and how the staging and set design. So why does it relatively go unnoticed when we talk about theatre. We can go on for hours about how much we like/dislike something without once mentioning the theatre and auditorium we have been sat in. Talk about missing the elephant in the room.
It this forgetfulness when it comes to the blatantly obvious that makes work in alternative space so fascinating. Forget the fact that it takes people out of their comfort zone or makes one feel (physically) uncomfortable - I, of course, mean only forget these for a second, they are still very very important - it actually makes people sit up and take notice of where they are and what is around them. And so, to a tiny caravan in the middle of Sloane Square. Anyone for a biscuit?
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