The reliance of outdoor theatre on some kind of spectacle was demonstrated on Sunday night when this new commission from street arts company Strangelings failed to come off due to technical difficulties. Whether it is a big-budget West End musical with computer-generated effects or a low-tech show like this, I am pretty suspicious of any kind of theatre that can't hack it on its storytelling alone. And I am not entirely sure that even without technical mishap, Baker's Revolt would be yeasty enough to satisfy any but the most mellow and cheerful audience.
The central idea - an uprising by bakers the world over in defiance against the predominance of the white sliced loaf - is a strong one, but for a piece that lasts less than an hour, the show takes far too long to set itself up. And when you are using so few words, it seems a pity not to be wittier and pithier. I did, however, enjoy the official announcement suggesting that while the bakers were revolting, it would be advisable for those with wheat allergies to stay inside.
In the end, though, this is a cut-price variation on bread and circuses, with a few aerial and juggling tricks thrown in to disguise the lack of substance or indeed political subtlety. Much more could be made of the totalitarian setting and why the bakers think "Better bread than red". It is good to see festivals and venues coming together to commission new pieces of outdoor theatre, but, as in bread production, quality control is an issue. Even giveaways should be worth having.
