The Last Show

The Last Show is a documentary piece that follows the final London International Mime Festival and highlights its cultural significance to the theatre community. The festival featured miming, visual theatre, clowning, puppetry and dance from a wide variety of cultures from around the world. Primarily focusing on the artists who contributed to the festival, the documentary is a compelling portrait of theatre’s monumental impact.

One of the documentary's greatest strengths is its blend of archival footage and informative interviews based around many of the central figures. While the documentary maintains a brisk runtime, it never feels rushed, taking the time to explore the festival’s cultural impact and celebrate the many individuals who have devoted their lives to keeping theatre accessible. It's an inspiring and informative piece of art that has, sadly, been affected over the last decade by a lack of government funding and the pandemic. The documentary explores the artists impacted by this and how they cope with the lack of support. The filmmakers don't shy away from the profound pressure the arts council suffered from to gain funding, and it's engaging to see how many years the festival sustained its longevity despite its hardships.

It's a concise documentary that wastes no time, exploring the festival in depth while shining a spotlight on the inspiring artists whose passion and talent have helped shape its legacy. The film is a visually stunning portrait of the awe-inspiring aspects of theatre and its transformative power for audiences around the world. The material may encourage viewers to seek out more theatre productions due to how striking the archival footage is. While it may not resonate with viewers who have little interest in theatre, the filmmakers do a tremendous job of drawing audiences into the festival’s rich legacy and lasting cultural impact.

As the film’s cinematographer, Kie Cummings does a terrific job framing each interview, using intimate close-ups that foster a strong sense of connection with each subject. While the shift to archival footage may be jarring to some viewers, the blend of interviews keeps the material utterly engaging. One of the most surprising aspects of the documentary is its musical score. Though understated throughout, Jonny Pilcher’s score is imbued with melancholic motifs that perfectly complement the documentary’s tone and elevate its closing moments to impressive heights.

The documentary conveys a powerful message about the state of the arts in the UK and the importance of supporting a widespread art form such as theatre in the current post-Brexit climate. It also explores how theatres embraced virtual performances throughout the pandemic, aided by additional government funding that helped keep the arts accessible. Perhaps the most emotionally compelling aspect of the piece is the question asked about how future generations will champion this art form. It's a hopeful and awe-inspiring sentiment that comes with an anxiety about how long artists can sustain theatre. It may deeply resonate with viewers who have a connection to theatre and the festival itself.

The Last Show delivers an emotionally resonant portrait of the artists grappling with the loss of the London International Mime Festival, confronting their anxieties with honesty and compassion. It's an inspiring piece of work that shines a heavy light on the struggling theatre industry and the incredibly inspiring artists who poured their hearts and souls into it.