Conundrum - Young Vic
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
CRYING in the Wilderness Productions (CITWP) are presenting Conundrum, their debut production as Associate Company at the Young Vic, in The Maria Theatre. Written and directed by CITWP Artistic Director Paul Anthony Morris, it runs from May 9 to May 30, 2020.
Anthony Ofoegbu (Barber Shop Chronicles) plays Fidel in what is described as a joyous and heartfelt drama about the tremendous capacity of the human spirit to overcome adversity. This dynamic, physical theatre production includes live music from esteemed jazz artist Byron Wallen.
Fidel embarks upon a transformational journey to review his past and search for answers about his life. After enduring lengthy periods of Selective Social Mutism, an anxiety disorder that paralyzes his ability to communicate, Fidel resolves to conduct a personal life review in order to identify where his greatest battle for self-worth and acceptance must be fought.
Seduced initially into blaming society, Fidel becomes alarmed by the possibility that he may also be responsible for undermining his own wellbeing. Perplexed by this conundrum, Fidel embarks upon an epic journey to wrestle with some of life’s most fundamental questions: Who am I? Why am I here?
The cast also includes George Siena and Rachel Summers. Musicians include Shanti Paul Jayasinha, Ant Law, Surinder Sandhu and Byron Wallen.
Crying in The Wilderness Productions became a Young Vic Associate Company in 2018. The company is dedicated to enriching the theatrical landscape of the UK via its work, which it describes as ‘Theatre Of The Soul’. It is also committed to increasing greater access to mainstream arts for marginalised communities through partnerships, training and employment.
Previous productions include Invisible Man (Rich Mix/Bush Theatre); Sarai (Arcola Theatre); Click (Stratford Circus Theatre) and The Seer (Menier Chocolate Factory in partnership with West Yorkshire Playhouse).
Artistic Director Paul Anthony Morris has written plays for companies both in the UK and internationally. He is the recipient of The Adopt A Playwright Award and twice recipient of the Peggy Ramsay Award.
Conundrum is designed by Sean Cavanagh, with composition and musical direction by Byron Wallen and choreography and movement direction by Shane Shambhu.
Image: Conundrum © Sarah Hickson.
Tickets: £20, unreserved. To book, visit www.youngvic.org/whats-on/conundrum.
Times: Evenings at 7.45pm; Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2.45pm.