Who knew that this little fringe theatre in Notting Hill bred such talent. It was my first visit to the Gate to watch Joseph K by Tom Basden. It’s a play based on Franz Kafka’s The Trial, which usually means dark and depressing.
Surprisingly, this was not totally dark and depressing. It is quite a clever play on the themes of a society managed by faceless bureaucrats, where your life is not your own. This could be the stuff of nightmares. The story starts with Joseph K’s 30th birthday and his sushi order is delivered by 2 strange men, who eat his sushi and forces him to sign and arrest warrant. His situation then rapidly descends into a bottomless, faceless world of bureaucracy with no chance of escape.
All this was done in the scarily familiar contempary world we live in like the bottomless stupidity of call centres, ridiculous call in radio shows but there were lots of laughs too.The ending could have done with a rewrite as it was a bit confused but up to that point, it was engaging and made for uncomfortable viewing.
The cast of 4 dealt with the multiple roles with fluidity, especially Tim Key and Pip Carter, who plays the lead role.
Tim Basden is one to watch.
Tickets from the box office at the Gate Theatre up to 18 Dec 2010.
11 pembridge road
notting hill gate
london w11 3hq
notting hill gate
call the box office:
020 7229 0706
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