Taken at a direct level, Max Black is stunning collaborative theatre, with marvellous realisation in the set and its lighting, sound production and technical wizardry. Its underlying ideas were too complex for me, and the following suggestions are developed from discussions with my wife, Alexa. The stage becomes 'a laboratory in the mind' of Max Black, characterised as 'a research scientist, failed logician and pyromaniac philosopher'. Through him Goebbels gives aural and visual expression to some absurdities inherent in scientificated frameworks. Grid constructs may burn themselves out or lead into unforeseen areas.
Control becomes thwarted or exploded.
Meanings can be grasped just beyond full articulation, noted but not fully notated, remaining fluid and unpredictable. Goebbels explores such thoughts through sound and movement, those of the actor and the objects assembled around him, animated yet inanimate, and through material chemical processes. Ideas emerge amongst these various sign systems. This is a touring show of highest quality, well worth travelling quite a distance to catch. It dazzles whilst you watch, and makes you think hard afterwards.