work.txt @ Summerhall
work.txt is a play with no actors that shines a light on the pointlessness and mundanity of modern work culture
Imagine a play with no actors. Imagine coming into a theatre, sitting down on a seat of your choosing, the light goes off, a projector starts running, and there are words. Words for the audience to read.
No actors? Audience participation? I know, I know. It's probably every introvert's nightmare, but rest assured that in work.txt, written by Nathan Ellis, nobody is being pushed into an uncomfortable role they don’t want to play. Think of it like going to church or school: you know that bit when you read the lines in communion and some people that love to do special tasks can also show off a little bit? It is like that. But funny.
Following the course of a regular workday in a major city, in a major company, someone suddenly and without an apparent reason lies down in the office. The internet is outraged, the story goes viral, the art world is interested, and the parents of said person are on a cruise trying to enjoy their holiday. That is more or less the story of work.txt. However, the magic of this play really lies in the fact that you – the audience – are acting it all out.
Since the start of the pandemic people have been feeling more disconnected, unsure of what to do, how to behave, and how to do small talk, so it is a relief to form a group with strangers without the pressure of actually having to invent anything. Unlike awkward audience participation where one has to improvise, here you can hide behind the lines that are already written for you.
At a few moments in the play, you will wonder where all of this will lead, and what the whole point of it is. And then you might realise that the play can’t really lead anywhere because there is no point to our work culture. There isn’t a point to spending most of our days in an office – maybe one should just lie down.
work.txt is for people who enjoy karaoke, who loved The Office, and who have a knack for cringe moments. It's for those who hate their boss, who are a boss, and for those who are wondering what they are doing with their lives at work.
work.txt, Summerhall (Old Lab), until 28 Aug (not 15, 22), 1.15pm, £12-14