This show from Scottish-based collective Snap-Elastic is classed as many things – dance, physical theatre, experimental, horror.
Eat Me, written by Luke Sunderland, is the story of two women (Isy Sharman and Claire Eliza Willoughby), of the dark web, of consensual cannibalism.
They – Predator, Prey, and Man (Ian Cameron) move within the choreography of Christine Devaney with recorded and live monologues.
As a digital production, made by Eszter Marsalkó and Rob Jones, Eat Me presents camera tricks and unusual angles, which add to the unsettling effect. It is one of the better stage to screen examples I have seen on the fringe.
When we spend so much time on our phones, social media, forums or VR, the human elements of love, caring, obsession and loneliness can become very insular.
The three characters in Eat Me do have very visceral and physical experiences, but there is a definite undertone of voyeurism and the exploration of what is morally right.
Both language and visuals stray into the graphic at times during this show’s 70 minute running time. Who we are, what we see, how we consume (and are consumed).
When love moves from the traditional language of romance to the harshness of power play, Eat Me offers a harsh humour to make the issue of soulmate being consumer more, well, palatable.
The trio of actors give strong performances, the close-up shots pulling the audience right into the absurdity of the situation. The man, the woman; the hunter, the meal.
Snap-Elastic has taken a type of fantasy you might find in a feminist fairytale adapted by Angela Carter and turned it into a piece you can’t turn away from while not fully understanding it.
As Prey and Man plot their dark web adventure to find the perfect protagonist, the lighting (by Simon Hayes) becomes less distinct, the scenes shorter. It feels as if we are dancing right on the rim of the devil’s private room.
I loved the way this theatrical production has been developed into something truly cinematic; an avant-garde exploration of the weird and wistful.
The dangers of making the fantasy real and the desire of constant craving fill the moments of Eat Me. The addiction of the Predator, the intense need for self-destruction of the Prey.
This show celebrates the body beautiful and the desire for domination within a twisted framework. In Eat Me, we may be forced to face our deepest desires, whatever they may be.
Eat Me is available to watch on-demand during the Edinburgh Fringe with tickets here.
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