This one-man show performed by AP Stephen is adapted from Kafka’s short story A Hunger Artist.
Haunting and powerfully performed, AP Stephen’s adaptation of Franz Kafka’s short story A Hunger Artist is intense and at times difficult to watch.
This one-man monologue tells the story of a dedicated performer and his struggle to adapt to a world that suddenly changes and the audience that he has grown to depend on has abandoned him. It is reflective piece that feels very poignant with everything that is happening in the world at the moment.
Adapted, performed and filmed by AP Stephen, this sharply focused show was created throughout 2020 and has been filmed to help raise funds for the Theatre Artists Fund . Importantly, the story captures just how fragile the world of the performing arts is at this moment in time.
Starkly lit, with AP Stephen talking directly to the camera throughout, the performance is compelling to watch thanks to his performance which is filled with a diverse range of emotions from his enjoyment and passion for what he does to his resentment and frustration that he can’t keep up with what he does and has to adapt to the changing world around him.
This frustration and pain feels so pertinent to how many of those working in the arts are feeling at the moment – not being able to perform for the audiences that they love. With this knowledge and understanding, Starving: An Artist in Limbo can be difficult to watch – but perhaps it is one that the government needs to watch to fully comprehend the extent that their decisions have impacted this industry.
Throughout the performance, the audience gets a real sense of the passion that the character of the performer feels. It is an understated show but it is filled with drama in the language that it uses and the way in which Stephen expresses it through his eyes.
The 40 minutes goes quickly, but perhaps it needs to be slowed down slightly so that the audience can really absorb what is being said to full effect. This being said there is no denying it is a powerful piece of theatre and deserves a watch.
By Emma Clarendon
Starving: An Artist in Limbo is available to watch here. To make a donation to the Theatre Artists Fund visit: https://ift.tt/2Ltq7Rb
Rating:
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