Upstaged Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Future Bodies has been produced as a trailblazer event for the Manchester Science Festival and is the result of a smashing collaboration between RashDash and Theatre Unlimited. Future Bodies explores notions around the development of human enhancement technology to improve our cognition, our health, our productivity in the workplace, and our bragging rights around our child’s intelligence in the playground…the list goes on…
Future Bodies presents many themes and current debates around human enhancement technology as a series of sketches and asks the audience to consider the impact of such developments on our bodies, our relationships, our memories and everything that makes us human. How far can human enhancement technology push us? Ideas of immortality and omnipotence are explored. If we modify our natural body to overcome its limitations – do we still feel? Do we need our body to be looked upon as human? Impressively, Future Bodies really allows the audience to engage with and reflect on the subject matter, never appearing moralistic or preachy.
Following an initial period of devising, the cast only had three weeks to rehearse with the text – however, the result is a very impressive, profound piece of performance. Rashdash’s Becky Wilkie stands at the side of the stage, dressed as a pregnant blue alien (of course), to provide a brilliantly surreal soundtrack. The sound is dirty, other-worldly; the lyrics witty and catchy.
The cast move through ideas surrounding technological advances to cure diseases such as cancer, improve a child’s intelligence at school, deal with issues such as grief and depression and by considering enhancement implants with their necessary ‘updates’ as a mandatory requirement of employers. The play also tackles the financial implications of science and technology and those who may not be able to afford to keep up with the latest developments. The final section of the piece explores physicality and the corporeal presence of our human shape as a means to explore individuality, movement and what it means to be present in the here and now of performance. This section was a particular highlight for me.
Pleasingly and to complement the innovative theme, the whole show is accompanied by creative subtitles which are projected next to each performer as they are speaking.
There’s an entertaining, and deeply resonating, section in which all of the cast look at their smartphones in silence, their faces lit by flashes of light from the small yet powerful screens. We’re already reliant on these devices as an extension of our memory and communication capabilities, are human enhancement implants really much different?
-Kristy Stott
Future Bodies runs at HOME Manchester until 13 October 2018.