Out of PrintIf there is one thing that will put you off of a show before going in, it will be the fact that it is running late. But for the production of Out Of Print I can definitely excuse it; because without that little wait, a valiant piece might have just fallen through the cracks.

In Spring 2013, Canada Water Culture Space searched for local artists who needed support getting their new projects off the ground. Two projects emerged; The Isthmus Project and the creators of Out Of Print, Ivo. When I saw the show, it was the first time it had been performed to an audience.

The bell dings, with a woman saying, “ladies and gentlemen the library is now open”. When you go upstairs into the library, you are greeted by a television that tells you about the library in a timely old fashioned educational video which brings out the laughter. But when the video ends, it asks you to go find a book that means something to you in the library and bookmark your favourite quote. In that moment every book I had ever read completely left my brain!

But just when you think you are in some elaborate installation, a character rushes out and throws ripped pages from books down Canada Water Library’s spiral staircase, and the mysterious woman runs to the actual culture space. It really sets the scene well and keeps you wondering as to just what is going to happen now.

The real experience is when you get inside the theatre space. We witness a scene play out that might be simple to some, but it constantly changes. It plays to the idea of author and character always being in cahoots with each other, and how, when you are creating something, you always try and add a bit of yourself. That is when you realize that creators Olivia Furber and Jo Tyabji have really hit the nail on the head with project.

It had a few teething problems, yes, but Out Of Print reminded us all about the experience of needing to write and needing to read – it’s always there, no matter how much you think it is not. The mixture of performance and sound installation really worked well and will definitely appeal to the arty crowd. Ivo really used the space well and in the end created an experience that won’t be forgotten for a while.

To find out more information please visit the Canada Water Culture Space website.