With a beguiling mix of song and surrealism, philosophy and fantasy, you might think that Panda-Monium and Friends are trying to disrupt our perception of reality. But, as they present Mind Games at The Arc, Winchester on the 27th March, nothing could be further from the truth. The show, a double bill comprising Panda-Monium’s Cabaret of Wellbeing and Stewart Taylor’s solo piece Virtually There, aims to relieve stress through silliness, clowning and comedy and make a positive contribution to mental health.
Panda-Monium, ‘Hampshire’s Leading Panda Harmonium Duo’, present a compilation of new and classic songs delivered in trademark Panda style i.e. Panda onesies and cool shades, whilst raising consciousness through light-hearted games and activities such as Pass the Philosophical Parcel and Panda Beatboxing. Matt West, Director of Artful Scribe, the Solent based writer development agency, describes them as ‘stress relief at its finest… Not just to be recommended, but prescribed.’
Virtually There, written and performed by former National Anti-Slam winner Stewart Taylor, is a darkly comic dive into the world of virtual reality, exposing the tensions between who we’d like to be and who we really are. The product launch of a state-of-the-art virtual reality system is undermined when the system itself starts to rebel, creating a nightmare journey for the hapless presenter. ‘It’s a show conceived in Lockdown, when so much communication happened through a screen. It emphasises the importance of genuine human contact’ says Stewart, whose previous show Spillage received a five star review at the Brighton Fringe in 2020.
Both shows appear as part of RAW, Winchester’s Contemporary Performance Week, which showcases local and regional artists across several Winchester venues. The 27th March is also World Theatre, a chance to celebrate and acknowledge the contribution Theatre makes to culture and society, so what better reason to get out and support your local theatre?
Tickets for Mind Games are £10 and available through arcwinchester.org.uk or phone 01962 398046.
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