Benedict Lombe discusses themes and structure of play ‘Shifters’

Playwright Benedict Lombe discusses the creative process and themes behind his play, ‘Shifters’. The production utilizes a shifting structure that moves between memory, reality, past, and present to explore the relationship between characters Dre and Des.

Lombe explains that his initial concepts were influenced by the ‘Kalûnga Line’, representing the boundary between the natural and supernatural worlds, as well as the soul and the body. He describes the play as an experiential journey that avoids providing definitive answers, allowing audiences to apply their own interpretations of love and heartbreak. The playwright also cites cinematic influences such as ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’, ‘The Mood for Love’, and ‘Past Lives’ regarding the play’s structural and emotional tone.