the years

Photo: londontheatredirect.com

The Years absolutely is a play for the generations, which always sounds like a cliche, but the diversity of this cast really speaks to every woman from young to old.

I was worried at first that this production was not for me, or that I wouldn't find any meaning in someone that seemed to be for someone who had lived through all the stages of life, but very quickly became emotional at the thought that an older woman would watch this production and find profound meaning in it, and that one day I might experience that while watching a play. I hope that many women of all ages have seen this production and been inspired by all the performances. I was particularly struck by the stamina, grace, and power of the two older actresses, Deborah Findlay and Gina McKee. During what seemed to be the middle section of the woman's life, I felt most connected to a woman coming into adulthood, portrayed by Tuppence Middleton, and so found my moment to connect with this piece. I was wondering throughout whether I felt connected to the production because of my experience as a woman or because I either remembered or knew about the world events that were mentioned and so was thinking about how I related to these events. I don't know whether it would be good or bad either way, but perhaps if I felt both then this opens up the possibility for more people to be connected to this production than just those who have experienced any part of life as a woman.

I feel that it is also important to note that the abortion sequence, while it may be triggering for some, is an incredibly bold and important scene to be staged on the West End. In a time of increasing conservatism towards women's freedoms, the realities of what is at stake have never been more frightening, and I would hope that every audience member understands the need for a woman to have control over herself and her body, and to be supported by medical professionals.

I have to say, I was mildly confused when the piece truly kicked into gear, as the 'epilogue' seemed slightly dull to me, and did not establish the context or form of the production clearly enough for me, but once I understood what structured the piece, I could settle in. I would have appreciated a less rigid structure to the script, simply because I was aware that very few people's life is linear, and it may have challenged the audience a little more if everything was not explored chronologically. Perhaps I felt as though the chronology and the repeated references to historical events took away from understanding the meaning or the message of the production. Sometimes it is difficult to project meaning or message through re-living events in a production and I feel as though this production could have benefitted from a more lucid structure, especially as the lighting, sound design and live music all contributed to a wonderfully transcedent atmosphere that seemed to elude space and time. It felt as if all these moments were happening to multiple people at the same time, somehow binding us all together through our shared life experiences.

A final image of the floating 'photographs' that had been described to us as each stage of the woman's life with a gradual projection of the performer's faces, each with an expression that seemed to feel every emotion of the last hour and forty-five minutes, created an incredibly powerful and emotionally fulfilling end to this production. The expressions projected for the audience emphasised that this was is an incredibly self-aware script and production - something that should be appreciated, and an objective for other productions. In this moment I felt that the script and the design elements of the production were slightly at odds, as I had felt that the narration of events took away from the gravity of the play's meaning. It was however, always endearing, and welcomed the audience into the production.

I would certainly recommend catching this production before its final performance. It is not often we are graced with a production that is simply and unapologetically about women. Whatever my, or your issues with the execution of this adaptation, it is hard to ignore that it is delightful to sit and watch something that you can see yourself in.