Carl Grose’s Dead Dog in a Suitcase (and other love stories) demonstrates the corruption in politics; the mayor is murdered by a hitman and the tale unfurls to catch the killer, with diversions of love and bribes. It stems from the urban myth of a dead dog being crammed into a suitcase (for whatever unfortunate reason) and being stolen by a stranger on the journey; this is cleverly weaved into the plot with several twists and turns of fate. The story is complex and multi-faceted, told through drama, spoken word and music, with unfriendly appearances from Punch and JudyOver the two and a half hours, you will experience shock, nausea, shivers down your spine and be overwhelmed with the creativity Kneehigh incorporate into their shows.
The first thing you see upon entry to the auditorium is the brilliant set. Mike Vale’s design adds levels and intricate ways to move around the space; it’s a real spectacle. The costumes depict each character perfectly and, although fairly modern, make it difficult to pinpoint which era the show is in. It’s a timeless storyline, so could be anywhere from the 1980’s to even a futuristic setting. Lighting Designer Malcolm Rippeth has done a stunning job of capturing each scene and location, I hugely admired his work.
