I’ve always loved going to the theatre ever since I can remember. When my family and I would take day trips to London we were lucky enough to get the chance to attend some incredibly iconic productions such as Wicked, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and We Will Rock You. The West End is a guaranteed good night out, as with any other live performances. Flash forward to Monday when I found out I had won tickets to see Lungs, I’m sure you can imagine how excited I was.
Since I first heard about the new Duncan Macmillan play Lungs showing at the Old Vic theatre, I was very intrigued. Through TodayTix’s daily lottery to win cheap tickets I was fortunate enough to win front row seats! As an app where you can browse live theatre productions, find discounted tickets and explore offers I highly recommend it to theatre lovers and especially to students.
Lungs stars critically acclaimed actors Matt Smith and Claire Foy, previous co-stars of The Crown, who have reunited to play an unnamed couple that begin to discuss the possibility of having a child. It follows a PhD student and a musician that have to both set aside their dreams in order to maintain what they have built together, the struggles they face and how to overcome them. Presented on a 360 degrees stage with no props and little staging, the attention these magnificent actors are able to hold seems like magic. This is a story about modernity, personal responsibility and simply, love.
Firstly (and hilariously) set in Ikea, this play follows these young lovers navigating through life and questioning bringing life into the world within this current environmentally concerning climate we find ourselves in. What do you do when you want to start a family but you know the planet is doomed? Truthfully, this is a valid argument and could be argued as a more common conversation than expected being had by many young couples. Nevertheless it makes for an intriguing and entertaining watch, whilst consciously reminding the audience of our own responsibility regarding the future state of the planet.
The sincerity and pure humanism of these two characters is incredible, as they travel through the motions from uncertainty to excitement of this big decision, while expressing the fears that come with such responsibility. There is an exploration into gender roles but this does not define our characters, and this modern expression of love and relationships was refreshing and resonated strongly with me. The ebbs and flows of emotional response are what makes this piece feel so sincere and real and I could rarely imagine where the story would lead to next.
Matt Smith embodies the unnamed man so incredibly well, especially when reciting a heartfelt monologue to his partner when he can’t sleep. Foy’s emotionally complex and honest character regularly ‘thinks out loud’ and cannot flaw either of them for their magnetic performance
There is no element of motherhood – the moodswings, the sense of fulfillment and the tragedy that can occur – that Lungs fails to explore, and I must admit I held back a tear or two. This parallel with our current climate and showing care for our home, the Earth, is beautifully presented and I pray it has raised awareness for such a worrying contemporary issue.
This is a story of motherhood and Mother Nature. Lungs had its final performance on the 9th November, but its message has well and truly had its own resounding impact.