Reviewed Alice Clayton
Company: Buzzcut Productions
Aug 21st
Edinburgh Festival
Venue: Summerhall Anatomy Lecture Theatre.
Bark Bark is advertised as live puppetry cinema exploring the connection between the human and the non-human world.
The stage is full of dioramas and puppets, a keyboard accompanied by AstroTurf, a large projector.
The choice of venue was also interesting.
The lecture hall for anatomy. A piece of theatre where you bring to life that which is inanimate to help educate was genius.
The show blurb states:
A dog with a bird-killing problem. Two people stitching their relationship together. A house filled with taxidermy animals. When a young couple responds to a dog-sitting advert expecting a free holiday, they stumble into an unexpected tradition.
It was an odd choice for a lead character, but it is remarkable how forgiving we are as an audience for a cute dog that is puppeteered so well. Add to that the wonderful piano music that accompanied this piece of theatre, and you had a delight.
It opens with a stormy day and murder scene of a dead bird while a couple get set for their dog sitting duties. As the camera works, we see the play from many an angle. Enjoying the puppetry masters working is just as important to Bark Bark as the story is. Showing us something real, something that needs a human touch. The irony of showing the importance of humans by using something that is not is very clever.
In fact, it's the moments where the dog, 'It', puppet comes alive that are the most joyous. When its ears prick up, the tail wags, the playful dance it has with a neighbouring fox.
Bark Bark is always questioning how we move into the undetermined from an unsettled past. Why we make our choices. How we listen to each other. What battles do we chose to win? Bark Bark pushes us to question what happens when we outgrow our life if our life doesn't fit us anymore.
As a piece of theatre, it needs to be seen to understand how everything moves together.
There were a few technical issues but in something that is as this ambitious I didn't care too much.
I enjoy storytelling that forces the audience to go away and talk to people about it. To see what you missed that someone else didn't and by that way, connect to someone.
How thoroughly human this show was.
A sold out must see that for most people now will have to wait for another time and place.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bark Bark plays at the Edinburgh Fringe until 26th August 2024 https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/bark-bark
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