Renowned for making deeply thought-provoking experimental theatre, Tim Crouch returns to the Unicorn Theatre with Toto Kerblammo!, exploring binaural sound which means the audience wears headphones to listen to the words and sounds. Before the play begins you hear rain falling – it's pertinent to the play but you won't know that until later.
Effy's mother is in a secure unit and the 12 year-old has to go to stay with her aunt and uncle. But there's a problem: they are not allowed to have pets in their flat and Effy is determined not to be parted from her beloved dog, Toto so she sneaks him in... However the situation cannot last forever and Effy needs saving. Fortunately, Toto is the dog for the job but at what cost?
Toto Kerblammo! is a powerful story about listening, friendship, love and finding hope in the darkest of places. The storyline is very dark at times – heartbreakingly so. However the positive messages mean the play ends on on an upbeat note.
I found the whole narrative very moving. I loved how the interactions between Effy and Toto were portrayed: often comical, sometimes sad. You only ever see two actors. Felipe Pacheco plays both Toto and Noah the boy who lives in the flat below. The transition between the two "characters" is performed brilliantly. We hear only the voices of Effy's mother, aunt and uncle which also works extremely well.
A really inspirational theatrical experience. Toto Kerblammo! runs at the Unicorn Theatre until 3 November, 2024.
PWT rating: ♥♥♥♥♥
Toto Kerblammo! is a Unicorn production featuring Felipe Pacheco as Noah/Toto, Peyvand Sadeghian as Effy, Madeline Appiah as the Aunt (voice), Nick Holder as the Uncle (voice), Sinéad Matthews as the Mother (voice).
The production is supported by The Thistle Trust in celebration of their 20th anniversary and Molecule Theatre. Based on an original idea developed for Visible Fictions.
Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley Street, London SE1 2HZ (a few minutes walk from London Bridge Rail Station and Underground: Jubilee and Northern Lines)
Tickets are available from £12.50 – buy tickets.
Box Office 020 7645 0560
Age: nine plus (guidance only)
Running time 70 minutes