Suitcase Show ★★★★★

The cautionary tales range from disembodied dancing hands, an autocrat escaping his own shadow, a moral message on climate change, an astronaut travelling through time, a matchstick girl and a brush with death. The creators of this production are true artists and masters of storytelling. What first appears to be lost luggage is soon divulged to be the ‘Luggage of the lost’. The short stories are then brought to life through low-fi shadowplay, wireless projection, lights and hand crafted props, and possibly a little bit of magic.

Each endearing story is punctuated by intelligent moments of humour. It is darkly comic in its dry delivery from border control, a spiky piece with soft edges and heart at its core. Despite the ominous air of the untrustworthy story teller, it has the ability to lull the audience into a state of relaxation, filled with child-like wonder and overcome with emotion and the comforting homely ritual of storytelling.

Suitcase Show is very well executed, clean and inventive. It is impossible to not be in awe of Trick of The Light’s ability to produce these tales, yet still keep the intrinsic values of each individual dark cautionary tale alive. A beautiful and haunting wonder to behold on stage, and highly recommended to reignite the ability to suspend disbelief and be awe-inspired.