PLAY REVIEW: Stars: An Afrofuturist Space Odyssey ★★★

Bringing to the forefront themes of aging, abuse, and queerness, Mojisola Adebayo’s Stars: An Afrofuturist Space Odyssey is a transcendental, visually compelling piece of poetic theatre that excels in terms of flow and blending storytelling with captions and imagery that pops and carries through, all helmed by Candice Purwin’s illustrations and Stephen Lloyd’s creative captions. With a core performance from Debra Michaels, the way in which the writing glides an already surging journey between locations, allows such ease to come through with Gail Babbs direction, that never rushes each pulsing beat to the text, giving it time to breath into the space at every possible moment and not drawing out moments that can be so quickly gone with the breeze in performance.

There’s also a simmering presence that pulsates through with thanks to the live DJ set from Bradley Childs, who also doubles for Mrs (Debra Michaels) son. Throughout the production, the way in which music conveys such transparency with emotion is fascinating in the way it allows you to breathe into the storytelling, and sink in your seat as you watch the events unfold on stage. Moments of humor have us in stitches, whilst more sombre elements leave us in silence, which is beautifully mirrored with trust and stillness on stage. Miriam Nbarro’s design also gives a rather spacelike texture to the piece, with a slanted performance space giving this uneven surface almost resembling the moon, with lunar regolith marking out the mobile pieces of set on the stage.

Overall, Stars: An Afrofuturist Space Odyssey is a beautiful tale that has family and undenying love at its heart, with a compelling video design and accessibility with its creative captions.