The Years
08 August 2024
Almeida Theatre
5.0 out of 5.0 stars
The current run of The Years at the Almeida may be fully sold out, but with the buzz its been drawing up, keep an eye on ticket returns, or a transfer! It’s one of those shows you just have to see, reading about it can’t quite encompass everything it presents on stage.
The Years is based on the memoir of the same title by Annie Ernaux, an examination of one woman’s life from 1941 to 2006 in France. In the play, five actors bring to life five different stages spanning the years of her life. Examining the different decades from a post-war childhood to the new millennium through the eyes of a girl growing, ageing, learning, yearning, moving through life and narrating her thoughts.
The staging is extremely dynamic, with all five actors constantly moving around, effortlessly handing off lines between each other, as one after the other steps up to illustrate a particular span in a life. It is an intricate ballet that is seamless and enrapturing, at times barely leaving time to breathe between scene changes, then slowing and resting for a while to allow the audience to catch up and settle into a new scene.
Beautifully presented through the words and movements of five women of five different age groups, it is refreshing to see younger and older women share a stage so harmoniously, melting into the same person before splitting off again and facing her as friends, family, lovers.
Yes, there are some very jarring, honest scenes, so do make use of the content warning before attending. Several people have indeed fainted during one particularly illustrative scene, which is not graphic in visual presentation, but delves deep into the emotional side. Indeed, during the performance I attended, one audience member did pass out, but the staff and cast handled it very professionally, pausing the show for only a few moments while the medical emergency was seen to.
But this particular scene is not included for shock value, it is handled delicately while being extremely honest about the emotional and physical realities of ending an unwanted pregnancy before proper medical care for this procedure was accessible.
However, this is by far not the most emotional moment during The Years. Seeing every topic from childhood to growing old being handled with so much honesty through the eyes of one woman, who becomes all women at times. From first sexual experiences to sexual awakening later in life, the story does not shy away from fully embracing this woman’s emotional life from every angle. From an unwanted pregnancy to very much wanted children, love to divorce and loneliness to community, there is a whole life to be discovered in this remarkable play.
Deeply touching with a delicate but honest hand, it resonates with everyone in the audience, it is a profound experience!
