Under Heaven’s Eye
11 February 2023
Vault Festival
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Under Heaven’s Eye at the Vault Festival was a sorely under-visited show on the night I went. Only a handful of attendees came to see this very current work.
Christopher Tajah tackles the topic of modern day racism in the UK, and the world at large. The show starts with a man recording a message for his children, who are currently studying in the US. He discusses his worries for their safety, and violent acts of racism against African Americans in the recent past. There is a lot of power in this show, very well researched and presented with care.
Questioning whether the BLM movement has really changed our reality for the better and how much more people of colour the world over have to go through before real, tangible change is achieved.
Towards the end of the show, there is a heavier presence of inhabiting victims of violence and telling their stories through their words, with haunting spoken word poetry that elevates the urgency and intensity of the show. I wish Tajah would have included more of these moments, woven throughout the show, as this really showcases his strength and connects with the subject matter on a deeply emotional level.
Under Heaven’s Eye is an extremely well researched show that deserves a much wider audience!