Noir

Review by Nick Lewis | 16 Aug 2009

Noir is an ambitious re-imagining of a 1930s detective thriller told through circus performance and acrobatics. But don’t go expecting a backdrop of grizzled Raymond Chandler-esque monologue, chain smoking wiseguys and tommy guns; Airealism theatre company pilfer just enough elements of the genre to propel the narrative toward its startling climax.

Initially, the story is hard to follow and the contrast between period and contemporary music feels disorientating and anachronistic.This becomes eminently forgivable, however, as soon as the action—of which there is plenty—begins.

The plot is as murky as in any genre classic, and as such uses murder as its pivotal event. In attempting to unpick the intricacies of a murder case, our archetypal hero encounters a number of striking, but altogether different scenes which explore themes of moral ambiguity, alienation and madness.  

A highlight is the dream sequence in which the cast, clad entirely in white, manage to envelop the room in a tangible sense of calm while swinging upside-down 20ft above the stage. Noir is both a remarkable marriage of two completely different genres and an arresting visual delight, in which every performer excels. Larger arenas surely beckon.