As the title would suggest, A Cloud in Trousers is an imaginative piece of drama, both conceptually and physically, exploring space, music and lighting in as interesting a way as Vladimir Mayakovsky, the Russian futurist poet upon whom the play is based, manipulates the words in his poems.

The play is set in Communist Russia and the effects of these difficult times are reflected through the action in the home of Osip and Lili Brik (Mark Payton and Elizabeth Mansfield). Having fallen desperately in love with Lili, but finding himself unable to pin her down to loving him and him alone, Mayakovsky (John Sackville) agrees to reside with the couple in a ménage à trois situation and to accept commissions to write poetry for the ‘Left Front for Art’. Poetic reflections on both the nature of love and the communist ideal ensue and these two forces compete and interact, jealousy bubbling beneath the surface.

The production is an effective blend of realistic and expressionistic moments, balanced with sensitivity by the director, Damian Cruden, who creates a range of powerful atmospheres in a bold and engaging way. Superb translations of Maykovsky’s breathtaking works punctuate the play, offering an insight into the character’s state of mind as the action progresses. All such moments are heightened by the accompaniment of a specially-composed score by Christopher Madin; these playful tones engage the audience with the emotion on a deeper level, their dissonant edge contributing to the sense of unease and mystery that dominates the play. Changes of lighting during these passages also add to their mesmerizing nature, as shadows and red washes are used to great effect. Cruden also exploits space in an inventive manner, playing with levels by using the ladders that are part of the beautifully-conceived set.

The cast is uniformly exceptional, with each member offering a strong, grounded and honest performance. John Sackville brings a crisp clarity to the poems of Maykovsky; the way in which he transforms himself into the vulnerable, sensitive young boy who resides beneath the poet’s initially arrogant, self-assured front is poignant. A sense of the all-consuming passions burning deep within him is conveyed with a moving amount of intensity, which is matched by Elizabeth Mansfield’s touching performance. As Annushka the maid, Gilly Tompkins ushers in a touch of comic relief with skill and verve; she also reveals her flexibility in the heartrending delivery of her reaction to the news of her son’s death.

With its amorous and political intrigue, its philosophical reflections and its modern-day relevance, A Cloud in Trousers is far more than simply a biographical account of the life of an obscure Russian poet. This production will engage your passions, your fears, your eyes, your ears and your imagination…

Holly Dickens