Ockham's Razor's Collaborator: An Intimate Circus Love Story at The Place
The world of contemporary circus theatre welcomes a deeply personal and mesmerising new production as Ockham's Razor presents Collaborator at The Place in London. This remarkable show features company founders Charlotte Mooney and Alex Harvey, who deliver what they describe as "one last hurrah" - an intimate ode to their performing lives together that explores the beautiful complexity of long-term partnership through breathtaking physical theatre.
A Partnership Forged in Circus Training
Mooney and Harvey first fell in love twenty-four years ago while training for the circus, initially swearing they would never work together professionally. "Circus couples are a pain in the arse," Mooney humorously confesses to the audience at the show's beginning, establishing an immediate warmth and familiarity. Despite this early resolution, the pair inevitably joined creative forces, forming their acclaimed company Ockham's Razor and developing a reputation for creating warm, insightful, and gently joyful circus theatre productions celebrated for their humanity and genuine connection.
After stepping back from performing to focus on directing following the birth of their daughter, the duo discovered they weren't quite ready to retire from the stage completely. Collaborator represents their return to performance - a final celebration of their shared artistic journey that traces their evolution from hopeful anticipation to challenging days when nothing seems to synchronise.
Physical Poetry and Visible Energy
The production unfolds through a series of simple yet profoundly telling games and interactions using props, ropes, and some particularly mesmerising pendulums that create visible waves of energy between the performers. This theme of waves and shared energy - how one person's energy might amplify or dampen another's - forms the conceptual backbone of the piece, creating a dreamy, mellow atmosphere that carries the audience through the natural ups and downs of any long-term creative partnership.
Holly Khan's subtle, effective soundtrack blends seamlessly with the action on stage, almost unnoticed in its perfect fusion with the emotional landscape being explored. The production maintains a contented pace throughout, embodying what many might consider #couplegoals while never shying away from the hard work inherent in any enduring relationship.
The Heart of the Performance: Trapeze as Conversation
The emotional core of Collaborator reveals itself when Mooney and Harvey take to a square trapeze frame, transforming it into a space for intimate physical conversation. Unlike the pyrotechnic spectacle of Cirque du Soleil, this is close-up, personal work that embodies:
- Deep trust and mutual care between partners
- Attentive listening and physical attunement
- Shared strength and support systems
- The beautiful complexity of long-term creative collaboration
In one particularly tender moment, Harvey hangs beneath the bar with the ball of his foot pushing upward while Mooney crouches above with her toes mirroring his position - a tiny, probably unintended detail that creates a surprisingly powerful yin and yang image. The production balances these serene moments with comic relief, including an almost slapstick moment where a toe nearly finds its way up someone's nose during acrobatic sequences.
A Beautiful Memento of Artistic Partnership
This engaging, relatively short piece serves as a moving memento of what clearly represents a beautiful and enduring partnership both on and off stage. Collaborator demonstrates how circus theatre can transcend mere physical spectacle to explore genuine human connection and the intricate dynamics of creative collaboration.
The production continues at The Place in London until 31st January, after which it will embark on a touring schedule, bringing this unique exploration of partnership and performance to wider audiences across the country.
