Written by: Rosie Sharman-Ward
September 2026
An unremarkable bedroom filled with a pervading sense of waiting. Loneliness, frustration, ritualised weariness. A life on hold.
Taking inspiration from Homer’s The Odyssey, Our Space’s performance The Body Measures Time shines the spotlight on Penelope’s story. The faithful wife and mother enduring the everyday. Each night she unravels alone only to rise, go again the next day and the next, caring for her son, managing the household, always waiting, on repeat.
Twenty years in, she is pressured by outsiders to end this stasis and move on. Everyone has an opinion, regardless of Penelope’s wishes. After all it’s unlikely her husband will be back now. He’s probably dead or left for another, why is she wasting her life?
This lively, cleverly constructed show tells so many real tales and experiences. It is funny, human and relevant. For me it provoked many thoughts both on the original Odyssey which I read years ago and the lives of the performers.
It follows on from Our Space’s The Orchard, a closed performance created and performed by inmates at HMP Channings Wood in July 2026. The Orchard looks at the experiences of prisoners released back into society with all the accompanying fears and obstacles depicted as challenges handed out to the returning Odysseus from the Greek Gods.
Our Space
“Our Space is Theatre Royal Plymouth’s creative programme for adults who may experience barriers to connect, feel confident and be part of their community”
Now in its 17th year Our Space is rare beacon of hope in our society. Proving yet again that the Arts are a necessary and all encompassing tool to heal pain and build confidence. People spoke of being given time to be brave enough to attend. Several mentioned feeling safe and a sense of belonging which they hadn’t previously experienced. Being able to be part of everyday life or being back with their family. Best of all was a sense of pride which was clear from everyone, participants and Our Space team alike.
I was excited to be invited to see the latest Our Space production. Something magical happens to the audience when stepping out of our increasingly judgmental society into this space of acceptance. We are there to be intrigued and entertained as ever yet there is an air of support and companionship not usually present. An acknowledgment of familiar feelings, echoing our own experience. Few of us come through life unscathed. Some of us are pushed around more or have less support than others. Some lives are altered enough to seek other paths. There but for Fortune.