Event

TELESCOPE

A new immersive play set in the evocative spaces of Testbed1's old Victorian dairy. Aloff Theatre brings the English-language world premiere of Telescope to the London stage, a thought-provoking satire by Azerbaijani playwright Elchin.

In this evocative immersive production, a man hovers halfway to heaven after dying and finds himself at a Way Station to Heaven administered by angel bureaucrats and filled with other souls patiently awaiting their ultimate journey onwards. Guided through the system by the soul of an old flame, the man gets an unusual perspective of the family and friends he left behind on Earth, giving him a bird's eye view of what they really think of him and in the process he discovers more than a few truths about himself. How then will he cope with the surprises in store from the people he thought he knew best of all?

One of Azerbaijani's best-known playwrights, Elchin creates plays that are fascinating multi-levelled observations on the effects of modernity on us all. His everyman characters encapsulate the heart and soul of contemporary Azerbaijan, often referencing the overlap with life in Soviet times and even more fantastical settings.

Directed by Matthew Gould, the Telescope stars Chris Simmons and Tanya Franks, and is being staged as part of the Buta Arts Festival, a celebration of the arts and culture of Azerbaijan in London. More info at www.butafestival.com

Twitter: @alofftheatre
Facebook: fb.com/alofftheatre
Website: www.alofftheatre.org

DATES
Wed 25 Feb to Sat 07 Mar 2015
Tues-Sat 7:30pm
(No performances Mon/Sun)
90 mins, no interval

VENUE
Testbed1
www.testbed1.com
33 Parkgate Road, London SW11 4NP
020 7223 7115

GETTING THERE
Rail/Over/Underground:
Clapham Junction
Battersea Park
Imperial Wharf
Sloane Square
South Kensington

Bus:
Victoria Station: 170
Clapham Junction: 49, 345
South Kensington: 49, 345
Sloane Square: 19, 319