Gecko Theatre‘s The Time of Your Life is not a recent production. Performed back in 2015, the performance was created specifically for a live broadcast on the BBC. This televised and recorded version lends itself beautifully to online viewing during lockdown.
At the centre of this production is an unnamed man, with the show acting as a metaphorical journey through the milestones of his life. We live in a world of social media and memories, where important moments are carefully chronicled and recorded for posterity. These small snippets come together to weave a colourful narrative of life. The production has very little dialogue, and is primarily presented through music and dance; yet it isn’t a traditional musical either, with the dance more a fluid motion of sorts. The choreography is remarkable, and the entire troupe of actors performs in perfect sync throughout.
Rhys Jarman is responsible for the ingenious set design. The colours are ludicrously bright, and whilst everything is where it should be, things still feel amiss. The colours and the hue give the action a space between reality and dreams, where memories reside. The number of props is minimal, possibly to allow the actors to manoeuvre themselves through the smallish spaces.
As the life of our protagonist comes full circle to catch up to the present day, the plot starts to unravel. The Time of Your Life leaves many questions circulating around the viewer’s mind: What scenes are real, and how much of it is a figment of his imagination? This unreliable narrator scenario brings a level of excitement, and the audience is one with the figure as he tries to latch onto events and people that affected his life story. But as memories are fleeting, so are lives. The show ends on an unsettled note, which perfectly encapsulates the message of the performance. This is a wonderful piece of theatre that is worth indulging in, reflecting upon the interactions that make us, us.
The Time of Your Life is available to stream here