Gob Squad in Revolution Now!

Revolution is in the air at the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) as a collective of flag wielding, vodka drinking, and movement changing revolutionaries take over in the name of theatre (Bravo!). Gob Squad’s latest exploits into their collective theatre work see’s them broadcasting to the world their cries for revolution, or at least to The Mall outside the ICA. Revolution Now! is a thrilling, rough and bonkers production showing how persona, theatre and audience can be linked into performane.

Revolution Now! certainly fueled a mini revolutionist hidden inside of me and is a great addition to the Lift Festival.

Gob Squad take the dreaded words of “audience participation” to a new level in their performance where cameras are poised in front of the audience, connected to TV monitors and screens around the stage. Portable cameras capture moments that are projected onto the screens and declared iconic revolution images, echoing dictators and revolutionary figures of the past across the world.

Revolution Now! is a playful and chaotic attempt at breaking theatrical conventions, and as an audience we can’t help but to fall under Gob Squad’s whimsical charm and humor. We learn of our cast through micro biographies declared on camera, “This is Sarah. She is the only member of God Squad who can fit all her possessions into the back of a postal van” – they are snippets of information that connect us to our protagonists for the evening. As the night continues we are drawn into a spirit of jubilation as we are prepared for our revolution that is to be broadcast to the outside world.

Our cameras are poised, outside the ICA on The Mall where a TV screen displays our performance, our broadcast to those outside. It is slightly apocalyptic, witnessing the outside world in black and white, a world where people progress through life without stopping to witness or question this broadcast, to question us, spurred on by a narration by the performers. Caught in the antics within the ICA and Gob Squad, the outside world seems bland full of spiritless people.

Revolution Now! molds the placement of audience into a performance. We are transformed from an audience “who just wants to sit and watch the performance” to a 100 strong revolution fighting audience spurring on Gob Squad to deliver our message to the outside world, to find ‘the people’ of the world. It’s hard to get your head wrapped around watching a performance, where as an audience member you are part of the performance watching someone outside the building, who is watching you inside the building who now also becomes part of the performance. The cameras facilitate bridges between audience, spectator and performance

The objective of Revolution Now! is to get a member of the outside world to join in our performance, initally in front of a screen, to end inside the theatre waving a flag of revolution. Gob Squad enter The Mall luring people into joining us, poised with their microphones and cameras, “We have 100 people who have taken over the ICA to aid a revolution, will you join us?”. Stirred up in a frenzy of passion for someone beyond the walls of the ICA to stop and be integrated into our performance (our revolution), I found myself gripping the edge of my seat willing Gob Squad on.

We have numerous encounters beyond the ICA, a Japanese man who speaks little English “The people of England don’t speak English” declare Gob Squad, Nick who just wants to get his bus home, “We’ll carry you home – all 100 of us” and the most promising efforts come from Barry, a Canadian who believes in change, in revolution… but sadly his train awaits him. “How many trains will there be in an hour? How many chances will you get of joining a revolution in an hour?” declare Gob Squad.

Their desperation, and interactions with the outside world are heartwarming insights into the British people and lead us into cheers and shouts of disappointment at those that stop and then move on. Ultimately Gob Squad play a difficult game in their interaction of real people beyond a theatrical context, to us within the context. They dance along the slippery edge of performance boundaries and create a performance truly unique and remarkable as they coax (although the well known actor/writer/director Tim Crouch) into joining our revolt.

Revolution Now! ignites something inside us. From a solitary audience member, to joining Gob Squads collective, it is a roller-coaster road of passion, determination and outstanding lack of convention other than a joy to watch and take part. Gob Squad, I salute you and your revolution.

Revolution Now! is part of the Lift Festival and is devised and performed by Gob Squad. You can find more information about the company on their website. More shows and events at the Lift Festival can be seen on their website. Revolution Now! is showing at the ICA until 26th July, book online here.