By Luke Moffatt and Giulia Zampini
Writer and Director: Liz Rothschild
Starring: Liz Rothschild
Pesticides. Chemicals. We almost always manage to forget what part they play in our everyday lives, in our routine. Liz Rothschild’s startlingly brilliant ‘Breaking the Silence’ reminds us of the real significance of our state of oblivion, which has accompanied us since the early phase of the chemical industry. At that time, Rachel Carson, a writer/biologist whose story is portrayed by Rothschild in this play, started studying the effects of chemicals and pesticides on the environment.
Carson made it her life’s mission to express her concerns to the public, government officials and the food and drugs industry itself through the publication of her book ‘Silent Spring’ after a long struggle against the state of ‘concealment and reassurance’ which has dominated people’s minds.
Not to question gives us a certain sense of security that makes the day to day all the more comfortable. Rothschild, through her breathtaking solitary performance, takes us on a journey through Rachel Carson’s life story and commitment to nature and justice. Rothschild has purposefully chosen a particularly significant period to propose her itinerant performance; her depiction of Carson drawing a parallel between her seemingly ill-remembered concerns of the 1950s and 60s, and the kind of climate in contemporary, but no less complacent environment
Rothschild, by bringing Carson’s work to new light, encourages us to ask ourselves: to what extent do we question? Is it difficult to try alternatives? Would it be a better world if we tried, and fought for nature, for ourselves, for our real needs and well-being? She suggests that we all need silence to think, and listen, but we also need action to break the quiet oblivion and decide for ourselves and for each other.
Breaking the Silence is currently on tour. Dates and venues are available from http://www.rachelcarson.co.uk
An evocative performance about an important yet rarely remembered figure. 5/5