Hanging in the balance

Improbable Theatre may be best known for part-creating the West End smash hit Shockheaded Peter, but they excel at intimate, improvised storytelling.

What a shame, then, to discover that everything they normally do well comes across badly in this production, written and directed (but not performed) by the company's three core members.

It's a tale about an architect who, having half built a cathedral, tries to hang himself but fails to die. Swinging, literally, in a half world between life and death, he infuriates death itself, and for a while no one else in the city can die either.

This is a typically intriguing confrontation with a big subject from Improbable, but it's undermined from the start by the execution. A self-conscious, seemingly extemporised approach often works to the company's advantage but this cast - with the exception of Lisa Hammond - can't make it work, unable to create either consistency or meaning from the free-form dance, clown and comedy routines and personal reminiscence grafted on to the story.

An unnecessarily technical stage, with hoists, trapdoors, hanging set designs and an elaborate backdrop, further lack the theatrical ingenuity and colour that make this company special.

Improbable usually create unique and complete worlds on stage. Here they've made only a mess. CA

Until June 21, Lyric Hammersmith, Kings Street W6, Mon to Sat

7.30pm, Sat mat 2.30pm, £12 to £20, £9 concs. Tel: 08700 500 511. Tube: Hammersmith

The Hanging Man