This Storm is a series of three short, thought-provoking plays that question what kind of a future our society is heading towards. Ben Brooker’s narratives of a dystopian future are packed with ideas and questions for the audience, with the recurring themes of a police state, government control, technology addiction, medicine, corporations, and advertisements looming over the actors like a dark cloud.

In the first play, Small Government, an unnamed woman finds a troubled man sitting in a crumbling building as he waits for ‘the inevitable’. He is all that remains of the pre-existing government. The dialogue is scattered with black humour and the ambient, deep hum of the building in the background triggers the mind to wander outside the walls. Tristan Louth-Robin’s surreal compositions during the scene changes fill the mood with unease and complement the themes of the plays.

During Point/Click, the second play, Brooker explores the relationship between a dying man and his wife, and how people and families interact in a world addicted to technology. These people are more alone than ever, waiting for an unknown delivery. People don’t leave their houses; children don’t leave their computers.

The series finishes with Dead Birds. Michael Allen plays John, delivering a monologue of him losing his son to military forces unknown, surrounded at the boy’s funeral with few people in attendance. John’s life is turned upside down in no time at all by forces out of his control. Allen’s performance is remarkable; the recount he conveys sparks detailed visions of the days leading up to the funeral.

Less is more as the actors work with little props and no backdrop in a small, hot and confined room, forcing all attention to the dialogue and their performances. Little cues in the dialogue hint as to what kind of a future the characters live in; tune out for a second and you’ll miss the big picture. This is a well-written, well-performed production that demands your full, unwavering attention.

This Storm features an abundance of concepts crammed into 60 minutes, and the plays serve as an ultimate warning to “not turn your back on the future”.