Review: Helios

The ancient Greek tale of the sun god Helios is playfully brought into the contemporary world by writer and sole performer Alexander Wright. This transformation is tongue-in-cheek, with Helios no longer being a God, but instead a mere pilot, and his golden chariot becoming a Ford Mercury, yet these changes create a relatability through his son Phaeton wherein anyone could see a part of themselves in him.

Helios is an intimate storytelling experience reminiscent of a well told campfire tale, with the chirping cicadas replaced with a cinematic score and the crackling fire switched for the gentle glow of several lightbulbs carefully placed throughout the centre of the theatre space.

Wright’s energy is infectious and varied, being able to impressively capture the nuances of a teenage boy’s psyche, while the intelligent audience interaction immerses all present into the world of this coming-of-age story as volunteers play small roles in Phaeton’s tale, with conversations bouncing between themselves and Wright.

Through the character of Phaeton, Helios provides a chance to reflect on the world around us; both in terms of how the events we experience shape who we are, but just as vitally the way in which it is us that ultimately gives value to the very world in which we live.

 

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Helios, The Courtyard of Curiosities at the Migration Museum, until 17 March