International theatre knows no bounds on Zoom, so Danish company Theatre V are making an accomplished digital debut with Safe Space
“I need to share something with you and I don’t want to be alone”
Coronavirus has unquestionably reshaped the theatre world but one of the more curious and pleasing effects of the move online that many have made, has been the increased access to internationally-made work. Copenhagen-based Theatre V took the opportunity to commission a live play designed to be viewed online and the result is Danish digidrama Safe Space.
Nanna Berner’s play draws inspiration from the explosion of interest in true crime but in the space of barely an hour, it carves out its own brand of remarkably tense thriller territory. Livestreamer Ene has received an envelope in the post which is posing some big questions for her and she’s reaching out online for witnesses as she goes searching for answers.
Fillipa Suenson’s Ene is an extremely well-conceived character, balancing the nervousness of genuine apprehension with the affected mannerisms of the online personae so many in this sphere adopt. And with the introduction of Alma (an excellent Lucia Vinde Dirchsen), a viewer who has received the same kind of delivery, director Pelle Koppel carefully and cleverly expands the virtual (and physical) world of the play.
To say much more risks spoilers, but I will say I was thoroughly gripped by the unfolding drama, unsure of where it was going to lead and impressed by the intensity of the performances from the five-strong cast, who ingeniously work around social distancing rules. For fans of Nordic noir, this is subtitled Scandi-drama with a difference and well worth your time.
