ED2016 3/5 Reviews ED2016 Theatre Reviews

xx (Poltergeist Theatre)

By Jon Stapley | Published on Wednesday 17 August 2016

We let algorithms run so much already, it makes sense we’d eventually start letting them do theatre too. Jack Bradfield’s ‘xx’ (pronounced ‘kiss kiss’) is an intriguing experiment: five actors, ten scenes and five monologues, the composition of which is randomised by algorithm. Who acts in the scenes, what order they come in – it’s up to the machine, and there are 36 trillion variations. The scenes themselves mainly deal with love and relationships; they’re sweet, funny and beautifully performed by a talented cast. The algorithmic concept seems more meaningful to the actors than the audience, however: appreciating the scale of the endeavour requires attending more than once, which at the Fringe is a bit of an ask. Still, it’s an undeniable achievement.

Paradise in The Vault, until 28 Aug.
tw rating 3/5 | [Jon Stapley]