'Edge of seat' performance tells profound tale

REVIEW: Her Green Hell, The Drum, Theatre Royal Plymouth

A nail-biting tale layered in profundity, paralysing circumstance, and hope against all odds.

If you had told me that the most engaging and dynamic performance I have ever seen would be an hour-long monologue performed with a minimal set and lighting, I would have chuckled heartily and gone to the pub instead. 

But this innovative piece of theatre was all of that and more.

Her Green Hell is a reimagining of the events experienced by Juliane Koepcke, the daughter of German zoologists Maria and Hans-Wilhelm Koepcke and sole survivor of a plane crash in 1971. After falling 3,000 m (10,000 ft) while strapped to her seat and suffering numerous injuries, Koepcke survived 11 days alone in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest.

I entered Theatre Royal's Drum to find three airline seats in the centre of the stage, lit by a singular beam of light creating an eerie and alien atmosphere. The floor was covered in moss and mirrored glass that echoed the out-of-place nature of the seats themselves. This set the tone for the entire piece, reflecting the minimal resources the protagonist used to survive her circumstances.

As the story evolved, the set evolved and changed, becoming rivers, leaves, vines, and even creatures of the rainforest in my mind's eye. similar to when reading a book and one’s imagined world seems many times more vibrant than viewing the movie adaptation where every detail is provided- The minimalistic approach struck the perfect balance between the story unfolding before me and the edges of my imagination, causing me to fill in the blanks and see my very own version of the events on stage.

Emma Howlett's script is excellent, and the storytelling so engaging, it truly kept me on the edge of my seat.

The research that must have gone into making the information and insight provided factual and realistic is mesmerizing. It allowed me to delve into the mind of the protagonist. Relaying how she knew how to survive her circumstances through her early memories with her mother was heart-wrenching and beautiful all at the same time.

Sophie Kean's acting is top-tier. The sheer dedication needed to learn a script like that inside and out is, oh how should I put it… SILLY.

The actress performing must have thoroughly dedicated herself to mastering a powerful monologue. It showed. You could feel her energy and raw emotion from the back row and see her recounting her experience just by looking into her eyes. The use of her movement also tied the whole piece together, letting her flow between inner dialogue, direct experience, and dream sequences with ease, keeping a room full of people fully engaged for an hour.

When the lights went down, the crowd was confused at where all the time had gone, so much so that the actress's last words echoed around the room and our skulls, leaving us stunned to silence. When the first claps broke out, the room soon erupted with cheers and shouts of praise.
When the house lights came up, everyone I overheard or spoke to had nothing but good things to say and gratitude that they had chosen to spend their evening watching Her Green Hell.

I seriously cannot recommend this performance enough. If you’re looking for an adventurous, innovative, and thought-provoking piece of theatre, or just an engaging way to spend an evening, you have found it here. 

Developed in association with the Theatre Royal Plymouth, Her Green Hell now tours nationally.