FRIDAY, MAY 16, 2025

PRISM
Photo from the set of Replay Theatre Company's 'PRISM'.
Photo courtesy of Andrew Stanford

Tragedy translates to triumph and control to creativity within the cleverly crafted narrative of Gary Crossan's wonderfully written PRISM, directed by Andrew Stanford for Belfast's Replay Theatre Company. On its return to the Lyric Theatre following a successful run at the 2023 Young At Art Belfast Children's Festival and beyond, PRISM feels like more than a replay for Replay – it feels like a compellingly adaptive reinvention that goes beyond mere recasting of its roles, retaining the colourful beauty and depth at the core of the piece while revitalising its playfulness and interactivity for a whole new audience at a whole new time.

Before the show has even begun, it's a pleasure to be reunited with Darren Robinson's dazzlingly detailed set. Blending the excitement of The Crystal Maze, the fascination of the USS Enterprise and the awe of Doctor Who's TARDIS while emerging as a whole new entity, Robinson's ship works, along with Eoin Robinson's lighting, as an inspiring gateway to and a mighty complement for the adventures of inter-dimensional travellers Dawn and Dusk, portrayed this time, respectively, by Mary McGurk and Holly Hannaway.

Central to everything is the conflict turned connection between Dawn and Dusk, either side of their Artificially Intelligent friend, the computerised title character. With our characters stuck in one dimension and with PRISM not functioning properly, or at least not as properly as Dawn visibly wants him to, we have a situation where Dawn delves into the theoretical and Dusk examines the adventurous as a means of getting "moving" again - and in doing so, they not only find a way into our dimension but also an exploration of their purpose and their origins that is as eye-opening for each and both of them as it is for us.

There is beautiful solo singing from Hannaway, there is audience participation, there are special effects, there are calming musical interludes, and all are delightful to experience. But perhaps most important are the characters' aspirations towards a form of restorative evolution where they can both make sense of where they come from and what they must do in order to develop. One can't help but be drawn in as Dawn and Dusk's intentions and actions interlace and interlock, at times harmoniously and at times discordantly, on their revelatory and most helpful journey where necessity and type of reparation is as valuable as the attempt to fulfil one's desires. Each character really is so much better with the help of the other.

What's apparent, especially on this viewing, is that in Dawn, we are seeing more than one kind of literal dawn – a wish to feel certain of one's plan for a day that lies ahead as well as the most unexpected but also most vital of epiphanies. And in Dusk, we are seeing more than one kind of literal dusk – the winding down of a day when we may not be prepared for it to wind down, as well as an equally unexpected and crucial realisation. One is named like a new beginning following an end, the other, like the beginning of an end, but in truth neither need be an end - Dawn and Dusk are as continuously soulful and vibrant as the sunrise and sunset which align with their respective names in the outside world. There's weighty contemplation beneath all the fun to be had, and that ensures PRISM's enduring value as enlightenment and entertainment.

Simon Fallaha

PRISM runs in the Naughton Studio at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast, until Friday May 16 before going on tour. For more information, and tickets, click here.