Yahoo News Review: Life of Pi isn't just a theatre show - it's a complete immersive experience
A young boy – the sole survivor of a terrible shipwreck – sits alone on his hospital bed.
He's greeted by an officer who is investigating the tragedy. She wants to know how the boat sank to the bottom of the sea.
“Are you religious?" the teenager asked her, glancing over at her confused demeanour. “Erm, no, not really,” the officer replied.
"I will tell you everything,” the boy said. “Because my story will make you believe in God."
Life of Pi is a familiar story for those who have read the novel or seen it on the big screen. It would be easy to assume the visual masterpiece wouldn’t be suited to theatre – but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
The spectacular show is back in Salford by popular demand after a hugely successful Christmas season. The play, which features a life-size Bengal tiger puppet called Richard Parker, will run at The Lowry from July 2 to July 6.
I was lucky enough to see the performance myself, and it isn’t just any theatre production – it's an unmissable immersive experience.
It tells the story of 17-year-old Pi, an Indian boy who becomes lost at sea after the cargo ship his family were emigrating to Canada on sinks in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
There are five survivors stranded on a single lifeboat – Divesh Subaskaran as Pi, a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan and a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger.
As Pi finds himself struggling for survival against the torrential ocean, the story encompasses author Yann Martel's perspectives of how spirituality is perceived in the physical world.
The second the audience was introduced to the variety of animals at Pi’s zoo, I knew we were in for something very special. Without a doubt, the highlight of the show for me was the incredible talent displayed by the team of puppeteers.
I was so blown away by their realistic movements – particularly that of terrifying Richard Parker – I almost kept forgetting the creatures weren’t actually real. The lashing rain, crashing thunder and other elements were so immersive it was hard not to imagine yourself on that sinking ship.
From a street market in 1970’s India to a stranded lifeboat beneath the twinkling stars, no illusion was too difficult for this brilliant adaption. The outstanding attention to detail meant the audience remained totally captivated throughout the entire performance.
Overall, Life of Pi was the best experience I have ever had in a theatre and is a must-see before it leaves The Lowry again.
The production first opened to critical acclaim at the Crucible theatre in Sheffield in 2019. A European tour will follow the tour of the UK and Ireland and there are plans underway for a tour of Australia and Asia.
Life of Pi is produced by Simon Friend in association with Playing Field and Tulchin/Bartner. For more information and tickets, visit www.thelowry.com.
