Touching Stillness with Temenos Theatre @ Greenside

Hands spread out like the wings of angels to a single note that rings out eternally on a cello. Gradually the harmonic overtones become more pronounced. Some lovely poetry is projected in plain white letters onto the dark curtain which backs the stage, but this is not a show for anyone expecting fireworks. The journey goes inwards.

At first, watching four ladies spin in circles to chants in Ancient Latin feels like sitting in as a casual observer to a physical meditation group practicing movement therapy. Relaxing, but not entertaining. “Whirling is an ancient practice used in the Sufi tradition and many different shamanic traditions to take both the dancer and observer into an altered state of mind.”

It works. Soon thoughts wander a million miles away, hypnotised by the mellow tones of Spanish-guitar driven mood music. The stage is forgotten and the mind is all we inhabit.