Liverpool Sound & Vision rating * * * * *

Cast: James Greaves, Richard J Fletcher, Nanou Harry, Sarah Hawkins

Finding Joy is a beautiful story about one woman’s decline into dementia and the people left behind to care for her. Created by Vamos Theatre, the story is inspired by true events and the show focuses on the relationship between Joy and her grandson. Vamos is unique as there is no script, rather all the drama is told through masks. For those who have never really seen this in a show before (it was a first time experience for me) it took only a few moments for the expressive masks and the physicality of the actors to work their magic and any doubt as to how this could work soon melted away.

What is so strong in this show is the storytelling itself. As there is no speech, the actors are left with masks, costume and a wonderful music soundtrack. The choreography is spot on and the movement tight so there are lovely moments, a little gesture here and there but so well observed. This was particularly apparent in the character Joy, played beautifully by Nanou Harry. There are several moments in the second half where you could hear the sniffs and the collective sighs from the audience all engrossed with the story unfolding on stage.

To tackle such a sensitive subject such as dementia is not easy. Vamos has handled it with much sensitivity and care and in such a unique way, it really did leave you feel quite exhausted towards the end, but in a good way. Some of the characters may well seem over exaggerated but it is through the physicality of these characters that make you laugh and just as quickly, bring a tear to your eye.

It is easy to see why Vamos Theatre is one of the U.K.’s leading full mask theatre companies with their very effective and incredibly creative approach to theatre, and storytelling in particular.

Janie Phillips