The Donmar Warehouse has opened its doors to present a socially distanced sound installation based on José Saramago’s novel.
WhatsOnStage: **** “The adaptation cannot entirely escape the flaws of the novel; having had one brilliant idea Saramago it seems to me that he struggles to make enough of it. What is utterly transfixing, however, is the way the installation forces you to listen and be utterly absorbed in the telling.”
The Arts Desk: **** “Compellingly directed by Walter Meierjohann, with an immersive binaural sound design by Ben and Max Ringham, who don’t really go much beyond their usual vibrating single notes and ominous rumblings, this is nevertheless a fascinating experience.”
Broadway World: **** “Surprisingly, the piece ends up being a warm yet jolting reminder that there’s light at the end of the tunnel – even when you can’t see it.”
The Guardian: **** “Blindness is an exquisitely told story of resilience, violence, and hope. Stevenson’s narration is so vivid, and the tech design so atmospheric, that you’d almost swear you could see each scene playing out in front of you.”
The Telegraph: **** “An impeccable Juliet Stevenson provides the voice for socially distanced production of José Saramago’s dystopian novel”
British Theatre.com: **** “Saramago’s vision of the fragility of social order is bleak, and this 74-minute adaptation can capture only fragments of the brutal, filth-soaked world that the Portuguese writer conjures up in his novel. But the show also captures the sublime moments of hope in the midst of the horror, the joy in the small details of life that remind us of our humanity.”
The Reviews Hub: **** “In the final analysis, is this installation any different from a radio play? Yes it is significantly different and better, not just due to the visual effects, but predominantly because the experience is shared through being part of a live audience. There is still a long way to go, but theatre is on its way back.”
Blindness is available to experience until the 6th September. For more information and to book tickets visit: https://www.donmarwarehouse.com/production/7878/blindness/