Waves at the National Theatre

On Saturday I went to see 'Waves' at the National Theatre which is a multimedia production devised by Katie Mitchell and the Company from the text of Virginia Woolf's novel, The Waves. It was absolutely fantastic!
http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/?lid=20233
The stamina of the performers was incredible - the number of cues sending them all over the stage to be in place for creating a catalogue of sounds with a myriad of floor textures and props would have been endless. Not only did the performers create the sound environment on stage however, but they were also responsible for constantly re-positioning video cameras throughout the 2hr40min performance for live video screening that was projected on to a large BP screen behind them. A dinner party scene would take place for example, with all of the eight performers on stage, but through video, we were treated to an intimate close-up of singular characters' detailed facial expressions and through this, emotions. Despite the abstract, surreal quality of Woolf's novel, we were privy to a very real world: one where human nature was presented in its rawest form. The magic of the technology was never hidden from the audience, and whilst initially this allowed for a curious spectator to marvel at how all the tricks of the projection with the cameras and placement of each performer, was achieved, this evenutally gave rise to an acceptance and a greater immersion in to the entirety of the piece. It is hard to fully describe 'Waves' by word, it being such a visual piece, but what stands out most was the use of multimedia, not to detract or distract, from the core of the text and the personal confusion of each of the characters, but to enhance this and give the audience a more tangible experience of Woolf's world.