Created by Kayah Guenther, Maitreyah Guenther, Kate Harman and Gavin Webber
Review by Dominic Corr
It takes time before anyone realises that they, or their family, might be ‘different’. Innocence in play, dance, and engagement, only really gets held under the microscope of opinion once you hit school. Nothing has changed for you, but given the response of others, it’s easy to let that reaction sway. There is a transcendent, deeply moving intimacy at the heart of Glass Child, a documentary dance-theatre piece that bypasses conventional theatrical artifice to expose the raw, unfiltered beauty of sibling devotion. Co-created alongside directors Kate Harman and Gavin Webber, real-life brother and sister Kayah and Maitreyah Guenther share their lived experiences of growing up in a world obsessed with prescribing value based on perceived differences.
The production takes its name from the phrase used for siblings of people with additional needs – individuals who often feel looked through or rendered invisible. Yet on stage, the connection between Maitreyah and Kayah, a young artist with Down syndrome, is laid entirely bare. Beginning with simple, stripped-back staging comprising wooden chairs and a mic stand, the piece charts their childhood memories, from the uncomplicated warmth of their home life to the abrupt, cruel reality of society’s external prejudices. Initially, Maitreyah delivers a remarkably candid vocal performance, articulating her initial bewilderment as a young girl witnessing her brother’s exclusion by peers – it’s an access point for audiences and one which roots an obvious core of care, respect, and devotion to Kayah.
Where spoken language reaches its limits, physical movement takes over as the ultimate equalizer. Driven by Anna Whitaker’s dynamic sound design, the pair engage in stunningly fluid, chair-shifting choreography that constantly transforms the space. Their physical vocabulary shifts effortlessly from playful, cheeky banter to deeply lyrical introspective duets. Kayah radiates mischievous charm and magnetic energy, matching his sister step for step as leadership naturally shifts back and forth between them in a fierce display of mutual trust and physical abandonment.
What makes Glass Child so utterly unforgettable is its refusal to lean into easy sentimentality. It is a fiercely authentic, funny, and profound piece of physical storytelling that challenges how we view one another. Radiating both heart-wrenching honesty and unbridled joy, it stands as a brilliant testament to the power of human connection, and asks us to find that joy in all of us – and look to this first; before the initial judgements taint.
Unbridled Joy
Glass Child runs at venue 26, Old Lab at Summerhall at 13:30
Running time – Sixty minutes
Photo credit – Mihaela Bodlovic
Review by Dominic Corr (contact@corrblimey.uk)
Hunter is a 2024 Master’s graduate of the University of Edinburgh and current doctoral candidate with a thesis focused on experimental theatre in Edinburgh. He has been a theatre practitioner for over a decade having worked in many capacities including as a director, actor, stage manager, front of house manager, and technician as well as others. Prior to moving to Edinburgh, Hunter was a high school English teacher in the United States. His passion for the written word as well as his passion for live performance are what motivated him to become a writer for this publication.
