A narrator takes us on a journey through a number of different stories - stories of love, of loss, of hope; of people in the future continuing to seek out one resource which is ever-precious and can feel increasingly rare: human connection.
David Head's writing is sheer perfection. His mastery of the English language is everything we could hope for - from his brilliantly sharp wit, to gorgeously evoked scenes and emotions all weaved together to create an incredibly special piece of writing.
Bursting with potential, we do want for a little more on the execution side of things. Head himself has a perfectly good and sweetly vulnerable rapport with the audience - moments of improvised hilarity are especially strong - but doesn't come across as the most compelling performer for this great work. Minimalist in its set up, occasionally we are left noticing the space on the stage - perhaps the addition of some intricate puppetry or physical theatre or even dance would be an appropriate addition to what could be a gorgeously overwhelming emotional experience. The lighting has moments that are truly inspired - specifically, scenes where we are transported to Outerspace are near-breathtaking - but generally feels a little generic.
Where this production really shines, aside from Jessica Munna's fantastic appearances as various iterations of an AI bot, is in its connection with the digital. Set in the future where adverts rule all, it would be a shame for these aspects of the show to be a disappointment - fortunately, thanks to Katya Shipulina's exceptional video design, and once again exceptional writing, these adverts feel real and expertly balance the sinister with the absurdly funny. Not only this, but the transition from live to recorded is seamless - speaking to a screen is not easily done well, but Head interacts with Jessica Munna's fantastically artificial-lifelike AI bots with perfect synchronicity.
As we sit in the midst of a crisis of loneliness, this play offers wonderful reflections on the human condition, and ultimately a hope for what can feel like a very scary future.
Definitely worth a watch, Distant Memories of the Near Future runs at the Arcola Theatre until 30th November.
Review: Penny Lane Photo: Carys Hughes