Cloud Nine: performance conventions

Performance Conventions

Cross-gender casting is a pivotal convention in ‘Cloud Nine’, demonstrating the disconnect between assigned roles and individual reality.
For instance, the character of Betty, a female Victorian wife, is played by a man in Act 1, illustrating her embodiment of the male perspective of what a woman should be.
Similarly, Joshua, an oppressed African servant, is played by a white actor, manifesting the misconstrued white ideals imposed on him.

Beyond gender, ethnic, and age fluidity, the doubling of characters is another prominent feature in the play that adds to the intricate exploration of identity.
Each actor plays two different characters in the two acts, with clear distinctions and transitions, triggering thoughtful connections and contrasts within the audience.
For instance, the actor playing Victorian patriarch Clive in Act 1, is seen as Cathy, a little girl, in Act 2, signalling shifting power dynamics and societal progress in attitudes towards gender.

Elements of Brechtian Epic Theatre, especially ‘breaking the fourth wall’, are used, encouraging audience’s critical engagement.
Characters frequently address the audience directly, offering insights into their thought processes and feelings, thereby cutting through audience passivity.
An example is Betty’s speech about the state of her desires in Act 2, fostering a sense of introspection and connection with the audience.

‘Cloud Nine’ often employs non-realistic or minimalistic set designs that signify symbolic elements rather than depicting an accurate representation of the setting.
The play’s ambiguous locale is suggested rather than detailed, underscoring the universality of oppression and societal issues addressed.
This also echoes Bertolt Brecht’s theatre techniques that prioritise intellectual engagement over emotional immersion.

The play deploys a unique time compression, where Act 2 takes place only 25 years after Act 1, despite the narrative spanning a century.
This serves to contrast the societal norms and attitudes of the Victorian era with those of the 1970s, highlighting the rapid transformation in perspectives towards gender, sexuality, and race.
It also signifies the lag in societal progress, where individuals still grapple with past restrictions in the present era.