TOOM (Tales of Other Minds): A Quiet Room at The White Hotel
Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor
For live performance lovers seeking something bold, thought-provoking, and alternative, A Quiet Room by Tales of Other Minds (TOOM) should definitely be on your radar. Set to return to The White Hotel this spring, following a successful run last year, this two-act drama explores the unsettling consequences of the bystander effect.
Written by Charles Abbott, A Quiet Room places four individuals in an eerie and ambiguous situation: they are assigned to observe and report changes in their environment, but when a fatal event occurs, their passive roles begin to unravel their sense of morality and self. What follows is a gripping psychological exploration of how inaction can have devastating consequences, raising uncomfortable questions about personal responsibility and collective guilt.
Raw, experimental and industrial, The White Hotel provides a perfectly eerie and intimate setting for the show. We’re getting the vibe that this isn’t conventional theatre – so expect tension, intimacy, and an experience that breaks the fourth wall, both metaphorically and emotionally.
Although reviews are scarce for this show, we think A Quiet Room offers an intriguing and fresh approach to storytelling. Its themes around complicity and bystander culture – whether in real life or online – feel particularly pressing for a modern audience. Plus, TOOM’s work is dedicated to pushing boundaries and posing difficult questions – so this play may appeal to those who appreciate a theatrical wildcard, a performance that provokes and unsettles.
With just two performances announced this April, this is probably a show to catch before it disappears into the shadows. And if you’re looking for a distinctive theatre experience that forces you to examine your own instincts and ethics, A Quiet Room should be at the top of your list.
