In the closing week of the Brighton Fringe, we had the privilege of experiencing a truly transformative piece of theatre Sitting (In Silence) by The Falcon & The Feline Company at the lovely Friends House Meeting.
This experience was an invitation – a literal pause that compelled us to make play to the silence.
The scene itself was a breath of fresh air: white trunks and tree leaves on white earth, where birds sang and the wind whispered, allowing nature to be truly heard. It was an immediate call to calm, emanating peace, healing, and meditation, with the palpable smell of transformation in the air.
This profound calm stood in stark contrast to the society we inhabit – a world of war, injustice, violence, categorisation, judgement, and normalisation. It begged the question: What do we truly feel? What lies inside us? Do I want to share it? And why not? The answers echoed back: judgement, fear, silence.
We keep quiet, preferring to remain silent rather than speak and face constant questioning.
Yet, sitting in that deliberate silence brought forth deep reflection, intimacy, truth, reality, and presence. It felt like a journey, a conscious search for well-being, a conscious vomiting translated into lasting silence. It laid bare the blurred, unconverted, normalised, and painful problems and obstacles we live with – so much fear, so much anger.
This experience bravely asked: What can we do to heal?
Sitting (in Silence) offered a potent answer, giving us a little piece of light in this world of darkness, a piece of hope in this world of war, a piece of love in this world of hate, and, crucially, a piece of communication in this world of silence. It urged us to ask: What if, once and for all, we communicate what we feel? What if we stopped normalising what seems violent to us?
What if, instead of keeping silent, we confronted what frightens us?
This theatrical experience brought questions, light, clarity, and a much-needed pause. It served as a powerful example of how to find healing through diverse emotions – laughter, crying, fears, anger, nostalgia, love, noise, and yes, silence.
It was a stark reminder that it is never too late. Never too late to communicate what is inside. Never too late to talk about the unresolved. Never too late to understand what is not understood. Never too late to ask the question. Never too late to answer the answer. We are in time to heal, to feel truly alive and not in constant survival.
And I cannot conclude without mentioning that this review was born of a deep conversation with my partner Valentina.
The perfect setting: Friends Meeting House.
A colourful place, full of nature, known for its plants and beautiful construction. It’s a place where one can truly take a break in the greenery, and where everyone is genuinely welcome.
The space itself amplified the profound message of the performance.
Sitting (in Silence) at Friends Meeting House was a necessary intervention, a gentle but firm push towards introspection and authentic living.
Highly recommended for anyone seeking a moment of peace and a path towards a genuine way of healing.
