Edinburgh Fringe 2024
A Brief History of Difference
Das Clarks (Mr and Mrs Clark Ltd)
Genre: Devised, Experimental, New Writing, Theatre
Venue: Summerhall
Festival: Edinburgh Fringe
Low Down
A thought-provoking and refreshing departure from conventional theatre, one for those who like to seek out the daring and unusual work at the Fringe. A glimpse into being different or a recognising one’s own difference!
Review
On entering the intimate space of the Women’s Locker Room at Summerhall, the audience is immediately drawn into the world of A Brief History of Difference. DAR, the central performer, warmly invites us to explore the eclectic collection of personal memorabilia scattered around the room. Embroidered tapestries, colourful lamps, and sentimental belongings are laid out, setting the stage for a deeply personal and introspective journey. We are asked to pick a label from the ‘This Could Happen to You?’ box—an exercise that instantly connects us with the theme of identity, as we find ourselves tagged with random words that may or may not resonate.
The show begins with a gentle nudge towards interaction, encouraging us to engage with our neighbours and discuss our newly acquired labels. This initial interaction, though slightly rushed due to the time constraints of a Fringe performance, creates a sense of community among the audience. DAR then introduces themselves, revealing a multitude of names and identities, setting the tone for a performance that is anything but linear.
A Brief History of Difference is a unique storytelling experience, weaving together fragments of DAR’s life through a blend of imagery, objects, and audience engagement. The narrative is non-linear, offering glimpses into DAR’s past through the items on display. Each piece of memorabilia serves as a fragment of DAR’s multifaceted identity, inviting us to piece together the story of a person with many names and layers.
Director Jo Fong skilfully utilises the small space, creating an expansive performance that draws the audience into the heart of the event. Despite the intimate setting, the show’s scope feels broad, tackling complex themes of difference, identity, and belonging. The performance explores the fluidity of identity, highlighting how we are never just one thing or one person, but a constantly shifting kaleidoscope of being.
DAR’s story includes direct speech, poetry, spoken word, upbeat music, interpretive dance, and recurring diversions – oddly on the subject of pigeons several times – that keep the performance lively and engaging. The interactions with the audience, from being invited to read a piece aloud to discussing our labels, are both thought-provoking and playful, ensuring that the themes of liberation, perception, and resistance are not just observed but experienced.
The performance ultimately succeeds in making the audience reflect on their own identities and labels, offering a moment of realisation that we can change the assumptions and expectations placed upon us. A Brief History of Difference is a compelling exploration of the complexities of being different. It’s a performance that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt out of place, which probably everyone at some point to some degree. It is a thought-provoking and refreshing departure from conventional theatre, one for those who like to seek out the daring and unusual work at the Fringe.
