Based upon the book of the same name (by Joe Simpson), and adapted for the stage by David Greig, Touching the Void has had limited previews at the Bristol Old Vic in September 2018 with a limited period until 6 October. After being well-received, it then had an extended run in the West End and is currently being performed live and to a streamed audience on the 26th to the 29th of May 2021 at Bristol Old Vic. We couldn’t resist booking a ticket to watch from home and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
With a live audience in the Old Vic, it is a welcome return to having real life atmosphere in the theatre.
The play sets out the 1985 true story of Simon (Angus Yellowlees) and Joe (Josh Williams), who are two young, ambitious mountaineers who have travelled to the Peruvian Andes to tackle the 6344 metre peak of Siula Grande.
It is hard to write a review without spoiling the story. The opening finds us in a pub, as part of the wake for Joe, who has been lost on the mountain. His sister, Sarah (Fiona Hampton), is there, grieving for her brother.
Gradually she learns of her brother’s fate from the two people who were there with him, Simon who went with him to conquer the mountain and Richard (Patrick McNamee) who was there to look after their tents. They show her Joe’s passion for climbing and introduce her to the reasons why people look to scale such huge mountains.
Beyond that, it is hard to review without spoiling the story that unravels itself to you, and to Sarah. The entire stage is used, and I do mean all of it. The set design and stage hands have worked wonders taking the modest stage at the Old Vic, transporting us all to the windswept and snowbound peaks of the Andes.
The first act ends with an emotional gut punch built up with noise, effects and lights across the stage. The amount of intense and searing acting from the three leads involved deserves a standing ovation. Perusing Instagram during the interval, Josh (Joe) showed his t-shirt from that first act: drenched through and literally dripping with sweat from his efforts on stage. I didn’t see any blood, but there was certainly sweat and tears poured into the performance that night.
With a very small cast (of four) and a limited space to play in, Tom Morris (Director) really transports his audience to that howling mountainscape, several tens of thousands of feet above sea-level. The desperation and tragedy and grief of the cast of characters reaches out and demands your attention, holding you until the end.
With theatres still not fully open yet, the stream of Touching the Void is a great way to ease yourself back into live theatre right now.
Buy your tickets here: https://bristololdvic.org.uk/whats-on/touching-the-void