Oubliette, at the Other Palace, is a new musical written by Tom Barr-Forrest under the auspices of The Volume Club, a group of early career professionals founded in 2021 to support new writing.
Barr-Forrest, a third year East 15 student, takes the lead role of Scott and performs with intensity, flair and a supple singing voice. Scott’s relationship in the oubliette dungeon with Jasper (ably performed by Oli Wyatt) was key to the show’s storyline.
The fluid movements of Imogen Dowden, dead almost as soon as we meet her, were also a comedic highlight that interlaced the show. Her trio scenes with The Voices (Konstanja Kendall and Oceana Bertino-Kavadellas) were hilariously reminiscent of Macbeth’s witches or the eye-sharing Graeae in Greek mythology and put the mime back in pantomime.
The idea of setting a play in an Oubliette (a deep dungeon from which there is no escape) was clever as was the idea of playing some scenes from the theatre’s balcony to give the idea of height. The sense of desperation and descent into madness was palpable.
The music was clever and carried the story along well, especially the violin from Gaolor, Grace Bown.
I had a thoroughly good time at this Marie-Antoinette meets Rocky Horror feverish dream show. I will be watching the careers of all involved with interest.
Have you seen Oubliette? Let me know your thoughts below.
Red Bus Londinium Life 
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