I Forgot To Remember To Forget: Emotional Tales Of Living Life With A Disability, Presented By No Strings ~Review

[THEATRE ~ SA] Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre, Sat 6 Jul. No Strings Attached Theatre Of Disability brings to the Festival Centre a play inspired by the actors’ true lives and the memory problems that sometimes affect us all. The cast and collaborators of No Strings come together to tell their individual tales of disability with emotional effect and the impact on them and those around them on a daily basis! There are many reasons we either want to forget or remember things that have happened, but every moment that we live – every second and hour – creates a new and lasting memory for us and others in that same space. I Forgot To Remember To Forget is about recalling the importance of those memories and how they have shaped who we are today. On the dimly lit stage are six people with individual memories and the shared ones that they are creating together in these moments. Each one lives with a disability, be it their own or that of a family member. Alirio Zavarce (No Strings Artistic Director/dramaturg) is commanding on stage and helps bring out the best in his fellow cast members: Kathryn Hall, Michaela Cantwell, Kym Mackenzie and Duncan Luke – all of whom are outstanding in their emotional delivery, fortitude and ability. While many memories can be a blessing, others can be an emotional burden which can either break us or make us stronger. But then there are the simple moments of forgetting which bus to catch, not remember to turn the oven off, remembering and unrequited love or even having one of those brains that forget and remember everything – which, too, can be both a blessing and a curse. Old memories and family photos that help illustrate stories are projected onto the movable backdrop, beautifully designed by Shane Pope, with the set dressed by Rachael Thompson. The stage was creatively lit by Katherine Kleeman which provided the perfect ambiance of the evening. In fact, everything about the visuals and sound of this show was spot on and perfectly complement the integrity of the performance. This was a wonderful performance that really delved into hearts and minds of so many in a completely relatable sense of understanding. No Strings have once again delivered a thoughtful, fantastic and emotional theatre production with a commanding performance by the entire cast. I look forward to seeing what they bring next. 5 stars Catherine Blanch (with additional words by Janine Spearpoint)