A death sentence for entertainment

This devised promenade piece from Theatralia sets out to question the US death penalty. Inspired by The Living Theatre's script against state vengeance, it draws on the story of Karla Tucker, who was executed in Texas in 1998.

The performers whisper, twitch, writhe and make such pointless observations as: "Sometimes death aborts one's life." There's also some impressively loud wailing and a few facts about capital punishment.

"Did you know you're more likely to be executed if you're black or poor?" asks one of the actors. Er, yes actually. None of this makes for a powerful indictment of the American judicial system.

When the lights are switched off and the nine-strong cast move among the audience with torches, the effect is haunting. But Filomena Campus's production doesn't trigger the visceral response it's after. Having an actor gaze intently at one of your ears is far from unsettling: it just makes you wonder if you've used a cotton bud recently.

Not In My Name may invoke Tucker's name but it tells us very little about her case or her life. The company's heart is in the right place but the show is far too naive to be thought-provoking. So when the performers start clapping at the end you're unsure if they are applauding themselves, the audience, or the death row inmates just listed. It's the most uncomfortable thing about the performance.