Golem, Theatrical multimedia spectacle by the 1927 theatre company , Young Vic Theatre London, 10* out of 10

Golem is a an intelligent, relevant, humane and funny story full of deep insights into what it means to be human, innovative and alive in a world full of technological opportunities and pitfalls. This spectacle is truly original truly wonderful, as keeps the audience enchanted and indeed full of wonder. 

Have you ever felt that a smart general-purpose tool you bought is fantastically useful that before you know it has started to take over your life? 

As legend has it, in the 16th century Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel of Prague, built a Golem, a servant made of clay, a medieval robot which would only carry out the commands given to it by its master, the Rabbi. The German writer Gustav Meyrink's took up this theme in his classic 1914 novel "Der Golem". 

Golem a show written, created and played by the "1927" theatre company, is very much of our information age, even if the creation that gives this show its name shares its looks and some other characteristics with its illustrious legendary predecessor.  

Annie tells us this cautionary tale of her brother Robert, their friends and work colleagues. Robert and Annie have been brought up by their grandmother. Robert is a shy, geeky lad, who has a minor job in the "back-up department" of a large company. Annie together with Robert and friends is the lead singer/guitarist in the aspirational punk-band Annie and the Underdogs. Robert loves gadgets and buys all the ones an inventor friend of his comes up with. And so one day he comes home with his friend’s latest invention Golem, but as he and his friends will soon find out Golem is not quite like the previous toys and gadgets Robert has come home with and will soon have an impact on Robert, his friends and their relationships to each other.

Golem is a an intelligent, relevant, humane and funny story full of deep insights into what it means to be human, innovative and alive in a world full of technological opportunities and pitfalls. It is presented in a beautifully creative way, melding live performance of movement, music and narration seamlessly with beautifully inventive screen projections.  Think Charlie Chaplin in Modern Times meting Wallace and Gromit with a dash of Terry Gilliam (of Monty Python fame) thrown in.  The result is subtle, hilariously funny and superbly entertaining. 

Everything in this piece fits together beautifully without a a dull moment.

Golem is the 1927 theatre company's third show and a co-production with the Salzburg Festival, the Theatre de la Ville de Paris and the Young Vic, so it will go on international tour. Founders Paul Barritt and Suzanne Andrade, performer Esme Appleton  and producer Jo Crowley are the core of a fantastically talented ensemble.

This spectacle is truly original truly wonderful, as keeps the audience enchanted and indeed full of wonder. The young Vic to be congratulated for a presenting a spectacle that deserves to be showered with prizes and praise.  If you are in London go see it (it plays there until the end of January 2015); if not, catch it when Golem goes on international tour. 

Standing ovations from the rapt audience last Tuesday night and unreservedly 10* out of 10 from me.

http://www.youngvic.org/whats-on/golem

http://www.19-27.co.uk/golem/