4.3 Miles From Nowhere
4.3 Miles From Nowhere mixes surrealism, naturalism and folk music all at the same time, and ends up a little confused. The plot begins slowly with five teenagers becoming lost in the woods, before it descends into a dream-like world, entwined with movement and dance and the most wonderful live music.
The thing is, that although 4.3 Miles From Nowhere has some excellent moments and generally captivates the audience, the plot lacks purpose or development. The surreal feel of the end sequences would work beautifully if the characters were drawn clearer at the beginning. There is obviously some powerful symbolism going on, but we can’t entirely connect with it because of the jumbled up and unexplained introduction.
The cast perform competently, with a stand-out dance sequence from Christopher Birks and Lauren Falconer that is both moving and visually striking. The folk band, led by George Williams through his character onstage, emerge from different areas of the theatre and effectively create an immersive atmosphere. There’s much to admire, but it needs fresh direction, to be sculpted into something more coherent, in order to reach its potential.
– Chris Wheeler
