SHELTER | The Drawer Productions
Born out of the pandemic, SHELTER is an exploration into isolation and the dynamics of a loving, yet dysfunctional family. The Chapmans invite us into their bunker they call home and show us an up-close look at their history, lives and struggles in a confined space.
When I first entered the bunker there was a feeling of being overwhelmed, because there is a lot going on immediately. Each member of the Chapman family was moving around us and there was a lot to explore in the immersive and interactive set. Once I began navigating the bunker, I was able to feel more controlled and could turn my focus to the characters and their interactions with each other.
The bunker was beautifully designed and is a huge part of the presentation. They did a great job of making it feel alive, almost like it was a character itself. You’re able to walk around, pick up books to read or even grab a paint brush and paint something if you like.
The bunker had a warmth to it that made it feel like a home, even if the circumstances that led them there came out of tragedy and the effects of living there leading to deeper issues. Through the books on display, the art and other objects, we are given insight into the personalities of the family.
The Chapmans feature husband and wife, Daniel and Penny, their two children Mandy and Miles, and Mandy’s daughter Sophia. What makes it stand out though is that we are watching three timelines taking place at once. It creates a haunting sense with Sophia guiding us into the bunker in present day as the rest of the family intertwine like ghosts as their memories of happiness, sadness, trauma, grief and childlike innocence continue to linger on for us all to see.
It was very impressive seeing the performers stay in character and commit to highly emotional dramatic scenes with the audience being right near them. Even with it being rehearsed and having multiple shows a day, it still would take dedication performing in that environment.
With the nature of the show and the close immersion of it, it might be difficult for some people, but SHELTER understood this and had two helpers on standby if anyone needed someone to talk to or if they had to step out of the bunker.
Some of the themes of the show resonated with me greatly. We’ve all had to go through isolation in recent times with the pandemic, but even more for myself as my childhood was one where isolation had a big impact on my life with the family caring for me at the time believing they needed to overprotect me even if that meant taking away my individuality and voice.
Seeing SHELTER explore those themes was at times difficult, however it never took away from my enjoyment of the show, in fact it enhanced it more that I was able to connect with it on that deeper level, in particular sharing similarities with Mandy and Miles.
SHELTER is a powerful and moving performance. I’d encourage anyone interested in immersive theatre to check it out if it gets the opportunity to run again. There’s a lot more to it than what I have touched on, but a big part of the experience is going in not knowing much and watching the mystery unfold, interacting with the bunker and following the Chapman family around as their complex relationships with each other are played out for us in a close and personal way.
