The Ocean and the Star

A writer called Ocean persuades a star to come to earth to help him finish a play. He struggles with guilt after being raped as a student. She has to reconcile her death as a witch (in the 1600s) after her daughter gives witness to her illicit lesbian relationship. The story works on many levels, though the plea for tolerance towards the end seems a little heavy handed. Director and cast use the space extremely well, and enhance the production with sympathetic lights and sound. The actors are striking in physical contrast and work beautifully together. The fights and dance are delicately choreographed. This deceptively gentle play asks us to consider disturbing truths of past and present.

Derek Benfield