Genesis
On a mission to craft the perfect play, struggling playwright Adam switches roles with his character Eve in a hopeless attempt to break through writer’s block. Genesis is a playful existential dive into love, freedom, and the stories we choose to (or not to) live in.
This is a unique show which breaks the boundaries of genre definition. It kept me engaged and on my toes all the time! Go watch it if you haven't.
It had a little bit of a slow start, but oh my god. The sound design was beautiful, the lighting was so incredible and clever, the characters were played so well. I was truly invested in this story. I absolutely adored the ending and how this show wrapped up. It left me jaw dropped at the edge of my seat. It was a cute story, but also a little heartbreaking with the ending and knowing how the story ends. With how this show ended it was so satisfying still I wanted more, I wanted to hear more about this plot and these characters in another show perhaps. I definitely recommend watching this beautiful show
In the beginning was ... writer's block. After that, a clever playwright-character switcheroo. Who creates whom? Check out the full 12thnight review!
From the very first moment, Genesis seizes your attention and refuses to let go. Smartly written, thoughtfully produced, and brought to life by a cast that pours heart and fire into every word, this is theatre at its most gripping. Genesis isn’t just a show it’s an experience that lingers long after you leave the theatre. A bold, captivating story told with precision and passion, it stands out as a must-see hit of this year’s Fringe.
Not your usual creation story. See my full review here.
I don't think I've seen anything like this before at Fringe- in a good way! It's a play within a play, but not how you're used to seeing it. This is a very unique show from an emerging new local playwright/director. Explores the idea of creation and creativity, and would be a great watch for fellow artists who have gone through the difficult process of writing or producing something meaningful. It's a thoughtful, existential exploration- but expect to laugh too as it's got a healthy sprinkling of jokes. Great cast, cool twist at the end. Check it out!
Loved the twist of this play! Great job to the cast and crew. The use of the stage in combination with a great duo on stage made it very memorable. Also, it’s hilarious!
Ever wondered how far the story of creation from the Bible could go? Genesis, a playful story from director Moemen Gaafar pushes the boundries of the classic tale into an existential loop, a play-within-a-play style show. Starring the talented duo, Kit Brooks as Eve and Ali Muhammad Khowaja as Adam, the metaphorical, layered piece reflects themes of freedom and the act of choosing your own story despite what is written for you.
The show primarily follows Adam, a playwright stuck in writer's block. He writes Eve into his story but can't decide on how to progress the story, leading him to discover a portal into the world he wrote: Eve's closet. He then convinces Eve that she was brought to life thanks to the notebook he drafted his script in, and that she must help him by going back into the closet and switching roles with him. But will things turn out how Adam hopes, getting the inspiration he needs?
Genesis is evidently referential to the Bible story several times, with the act of writing in the notebook to determine events very clearly being a metaphor for Adam and Eve's first experiences with freedom and control from God. Ali and Kit play these raw emotions out really effectively, and are both great actors in their own right. The two appear to have slightly different acting styles: Ali being very physical, energetic and dramatic, whereas Kit is grounded, natural, and realistic. There are especially some noticeable moments where they bounce off each other well, keeping your eyes glued onto the stage to watch what happens next.
The lighting and sound choices made in the show truly piqued my interest. Whilst generally, the transitions were a little stiff and lacked any sound, the moments where lots of sound effects were used were hard to ignore. The scene where Adam is...under the influence let's say (wink wink) is especially noteworthy with these moving green spotlights and loud, chaotic backtrack. It perfectly set the mood for the kind of uncomfortable position Adam was in in that moment.
Overall, Genesis was quite enjoyable and intriguing. I found myself constantly wondering what would happen next. Though described as a comedy/drama, the show is definitely more drama than it is comedy; though that does not in any way affect how much I liked it. Most of all, the message I took away from the show was one of writing your own destiny so as to not keep yourself in an endless loop; but maybe the ending is meant to be ambiguous. I'd recommend this play to anyone who wants to take on the challenge of interpreting the ending of this simply enthralling story.
The play truly blew my mind especially the twist at the end. Would definitely recommend watching it at least twice to spot the even more fun Easter eggs. The actors were amazing, Eve/Jessie was nothing short of perfection and Adam obviously was amazing especially the physical comedy with which he played the shrooms scene. I definitely was surprised knowing that it's the director/ writer's first show!! Overall 5/5. Grab everyone and anyone and go watch the show.