Based on the story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, The Yellow Wallpaper is a six-person dance thriller brought to life through a fusion of visceral choreography and classic text. While undergoing treatment for “female hysteria”, Jane is confined to a room covered in yellow wallpaper. As the weeks pass, the wallpaper begins to take on a horrifying life of its own. Jane becomes convinced that there are women trapped within the walls – and that it is up to her to set them free.
So, I will be straight up on this one.
When you see a show and immediately think it is tour ready, this show is tour ready.
You could easily place this production into a theatre from tomorrow and I genuinely believe it would go without a hitch. There is a confidence and completeness to The Yellow Wallpaper which makes it feel as though everything has already been considered, developed and carefully positioned.
The show was excellently presented, from the dancers and ensemble who added an eerie depth to the play, through to the visual elements which helped create the unsettling world surrounding Jane.
The movement wasn’t simply there to make the production look impressive. It contributed to the storytelling and the increasingly disturbing atmosphere. The ensemble became part of the psychological world of the piece, helping us experience Jane’s changing state of mind rather than simply watching it from a distance.
It was expertly devised and put together extremely well.
There was a strong understanding of staging throughout. Lighting and effects were used effectively to change the mood and heighten the tension without overwhelming what was happening on stage. Everything felt purposeful.
The show had suspense, fun moments and moments of relief, alongside a genuine concern for the main character, Jane. That emotional connection is particularly important because without it, the production could quite easily become an impressive exercise in movement and visuals.
Instead, we care about what is happening to her.
As Jane’s situation develops, the production draws you further into her world. The combination of performance, choreography, lighting and visual effects creates an atmosphere which can shift from intriguing to unsettling remarkably quickly.
The audience clearly loved this show, and I could understand why.
What impressed me most was how complete the production felt. At the Fringe, you see shows at all different stages of their lives. Some are experiments, some are works in progress, some are finding their feet and others arrive knowing exactly what they are.
The Yellow Wallpaper knows exactly what it is.
There is a polish here which makes it feel ready for a life beyond Edinburgh. It doesn’t need an audience to imagine what it could become with a bigger venue or further development. The production already demonstrates what it can do.
And ultimately, I was transported to another world.
That’s the magic of powerful theatre. For the duration of the production, the room around you disappears and you’re pulled completely into the world the company has created.
The Yellow Wallpaper achieved that.
So I’m finishing this review with a slightly different recommendation than usual.
Theatre bookers: get yourself along to this show.
Then book this show.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/the-yellow-wallpaper
Tour ready and hauntingly beautiful – powerful theatre that deserves a life beyond the Fringe
★★★★★ 5 Stars
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