Preview: A Clockwork Orange, Belt Up, The Studio, York Theatre Royal, June 20-21

5:18pm Friday 20th June 2008

IF YOU have faced a comedian seeking an easy victim in the stalls, York company Belt Up's new concept in audience participa- tion may set off the palpitations.

Tonight and tomorrow's per- formances of A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess's study of free will and psychological behav- iourism, carries a warning.

Correction; make that lots of warnings.

This show in the Studio at York Theatre Royal includes: Violent and disturbing content! Scenes of a violent nature! Strobe effect lighting! Theatrical haze! Loud music and noises! Nudity!

More significantly, University of York student Alex Wright's pro- duction involves "a large element of audience interaction". Oh yes?

"At no point will any audience member be MADE to do any thing, however it is more up to them to refuse," the show poster asserts.

The audience "may sit and stand at their own discretion" as the performers move around them in The Studio, where Belt Up politely advises the wearing of comfortable shoes and clothing.

So, Alex, why should the tender theatre-going citizens of York watch a company described as "aggressively participatory" by The Sunday Times, as they go about their business of immersing the audience in the dark centre of Nadsat gang culture: a place of rape, murder, retribution, ultra- violence and Beethoven's music?

"Firstly, it's not a well-known stage play, but it's a well known film and book, so it's interesting to see it in 3-D," he says.

"Secondly, we're developing a new style of theatre. We're a new company - we started last year - and we're already getting award- winning recognition for the way we work with the text and with the audience "And thirdly, it's a very excit- ing way to present very physical theatre. What's wonderful about this form of theatre is that you don't know what people are going to do, how they will react, or what they're going to say."

The bomb is ticking A Clockwork Orange, Belt Up, The Studio, York Theatre Royal, tonight at 7.45pm, tomorrow, 2pm and 7.45pm (01904 623568).

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