By Heart at Battersea Arts Centre Review
By Heart production image. Photo by Christophe Raynaud de Lage
Written by Sarah C for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Never have I felt such a sense of betrayal when attempting to review a piece of live theatre, that by its very nature is a one-off subjective experience, for one night only. By Heart, devised and performed by Tiago Rodrigues, is on for two nights only at the Battersea Arts Centre; thus, I scribbled at lightning speed to tell you to buy a ticket!
The focus of By Heart is teaching 10 members of the public a Shakespeare sonnet (number 30) “When to the sessions of sweet silent thought, I summon up remembrance of things past…”. Portuguese-born Rodrigues has performed By Heart across the world over the last 10 years, but this is the first time he is performing in the UK, the home of Shakespeare. This generates an added layer of excitement and jeopardy. To perform this work in London, Rodrigues says, was a promise to his grandmother, who had learned the sonnets before going blind. How much of this is actually autobiographical and how much is a dramatic device is a question in the post-show discussion. However, for now, we buy in.
Whilst teaching the sonnet to these 10 volunteers, Rodrigues uses extracts from Ray Bradbury, George Steiner, and Joseph Brodsky to enrich his storytelling and advance the narrative that frames the evening. In short, Rodrigues would take gifts to his elderly grandmother when visiting her in a remote village in Portugal, one of which was a book of sonnets that she learned by heart. At the end of her life, bedridden and no longer recognising anyone, she could perfectly recite the 14 lines.
This was a theatrical experience like no other; rich with layers of storytelling, philosophy, vulnerability, risk, and humour; it savours literature and celebrates language. The result was uplifting, moving, thought-provoking, inspiring, entertaining, and utterly engaging. A core takeaway from the work is about the ownership of stories and text; once we learn by heart, once the text lives in us, no one can take it away from us.
The majestic grand hall at the BAC, with its exposed brickwork, white floor, and simple semi-circle of chairs, has a rawness that creates a space for the story to take centre stage, the literature is theatrically brought to life, and the language breathes. Each chair is different, in colour and style, each unique. There are two fruit crates of books downstage, which are used as props, or rather, reminders and markers of the authors, and of Rodrigues carrying them to his grandmother. Rodrigues is part jester, part orator and teacher; a master of his craft. His command of the audience, stage, participants, and the language is incredible. If you could bottle his timing and sell it, you’d make a fortune.
A concern for many British Shakespeare lovers is the handling of the text by a non-native speaker, which Rodrigues does with a care and finesse that many British actors do not. He relishes the pentameter and indeed speaks the Sonnet in several different languages, all as rich and poetic. However, the focus is on the volunteers who were surprisingly easy to recruit; the stage was rushed with people fighting for a chair. Rodrigues' reputation precedes him. They learn, largely by repetition, 4 lines collectively, 10 individually. He uses examples from literature and anecdotes that give context and provoke feelings. “You are the sole guardian of this line,” Rodrigues tells the participants, “no pressure”. He quotes from Stiener that you must “learn by heart, with your heart, not by brain because expression deserves emotion”. Actors take note. This culminates in participants literally eating the sonnet that has been printed on edible paper, as they ingest the language. You really need to be there.
Although By Heart has been performed for 10 years, it is as alive as if it were the first night, because, as it should be, this theatrical experience only happens in its unique way for one night only. If you miss it in London this time, By Heart will surely come around again- even if you have to travel abroad to see it, you can only be enriched by the experience.
★★★★★
