The Washing Line

Review by Sam

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Returning to Chickenshed after a sell-out run in 2022 is the distressing and harrowing story of Jim Jones and The People's Temple.

Exploring the world of cults through this unfiltered account of community, The Washing Line transports audiences to Jonestown, Guyana. Through an interspersed timeline both past and future, the show details one of the deadliest mass deaths in American history as it questions what drives people to join alternative forms of community. Devised and created by Michael Bossisse, Dave Carey and Bethany Hamlin, the production captures the raw tragedy of this event through Chickenshed's signature approach to story telling. Using a combination of dance, music, and multi-media, the narrative recreated is unique, wildly original and extremely moving.

Directors Bossisse and Hamlin have created a powerful immersive theatrical experience to tell this story, entirely repurposing the Rayne Theatre to have audiences sat in traverse, symbolically encapsulating and trapping the performers in this narrative. From the moment you enter the auditorium you are instantly transported into the tragic events of the Jim Jones massacre, as the ensemble litter the space to portray the scene of the crime to a highly impactful degree.

Despite loving the Chickenshed's commanding choreography, there are a few moments where the dance sequences felt a little too extended. I feel that with some minor adjustments and tightening that these would have a greater impact on the narrative. The structure of the piece also felt a little lost and sporadic at times, as the narrative order of events were scrambled in an almost randomised order. Despite this, the story reaches a highly dramatic conclusion, inter splicing documentary snippets to relay the accurate portrayal of key events throughout.

The Washing Line is a key example of just how powerful the Chickenshed's storytelling can be through its unique approach to theatre. Showcasing the high quality of work that can be seen off west end, Chickenshed have created yet another production which is incredibly moving with an important message in our current climate.