Devised Theatre has been growing in popularity, in fact we declared in one of the coolest movements happening in Perth in our annual ‘A-Z of Cool’ report two years ago. Devised Theatre sees the writer, director and actors working together, often with source material, to create the production in the rehearsal room, rather than working from a locked down script.
Upon entering the auditorium to see the world premiere of Lauchlin Philpott’s new play ‘Alienation’ patrons were greeted by a note from the award winning playwright. It read,
“I would like to acknowledge the people who bravely shared their stories and the actors and creative artists who contributed to this work in good faith.
“However, the outcome of this production does not reflect my original, scripted or communicated intentions as the playwright.”
It’s an abrupt introduction to the show. Clearly what the company has created is too far away from what Philpott envisaged. A quick glace across the program revealed no mention of the author either; Philpott’s taken his name off the production.
The show is about the experiences of Australian people who claim to have been abducted by extra terrestrial. It draws a worthy line between their experience with aliens – and the alienation they face from society if they share their experiences.
When I interviewed Philpott just a few weeks ago he was enthused about the work. At the time the play was in its second week of development. Philpott said he’d given Director Mel Cantwell a “bit of a puzzle to work out,” saying, “I didn’t want to give her a play in the final sense, I wanted them to work out the structure of it and there is so much material, [so much] that they’ve started to strip back.”
Who knows what happened in the last few weeks to lead to the note that will appear on seats throughout the shows run here in Perth and at its next presentation in Queensland. Undoubtedly the note casts a shadow on the production, and it was difficult to view it without wondering about the alternative paths of development that were not selected in its creation – what might it have been?
For a moment I also wondered if this part of the theatrical experience, had Philpott himself been metaphorically abducted by the process of devised theatre?
Aside from the backstage drama, here’s what happens in the show.
Four actors take to the stage, Naomi Hanbury, Luke Hewitt, Natalie Holmwood and Robert Jago. The stage is filled with large baloons, creating the feeling of the solar system as the actors move them around the space. The actors begin to introduce themselves, in this show they’ll be playing themselves as well as playing various characters.
It’s a little confusing. The technique allows us to recognise that in dealing with this unusual topic, the actors bring to the production their own beliefs and biases. But are too many layers being presented? Most of the time the challenge of a performer is to bring to life a person, this is more like a n actor trying to bring to life a research report – so many layers preventing us from getting to the heart of the topic.
The work also utilises a technique of narrating the action, all the actors participate in it, speaking in the third person, sometimes in unison. It’s an strange choice of delivery, for once again, it removes us from the action. There are moments of humour, but it’s feels uncomfortable, for as an audience member I wasn’t sure if I was meant to be trying to understand the experience of people who have abducts or mocking their claims.
Through the narrative we hear of the experiences of people who meet at a support group for alien abducts, there are big choices for these people to make – do you speak of your experiences or keep them a secret? If you’ve been abducted one time, is it going to happen again? How do you maintain relationships with people who may just think you’re plain crazy?
The actors in this production give good performances. They are a talented cast who are working hard on stage. Yet the way this story is presented was challenging, and it was difficult to connect with. Bizarrely the experience of an audience member trying to get to the heart of this play, may be quite similar to the experience of an abduction survivor trying to connect with the world, fighting through many layers of noise in an attempt to be heard.
While I didn’t enjoy watching this production, i have enjoyed thinking about it afterwards – it’s a conversation starter for sure. As it is a devised work, it may also have a longer than expected life if the playwright is willing to let another group devise it again, giving us another pathway into the heart of the matter.
Perth Theatre Company should be applauded for their bold and innovative selection of work. This is a company taking risks and testing both the artists and the audience ideas of how we tell stories in the theatre, sadly on this occasion the experience falls flat.
Perth Theatre Company’s production of ‘Alienation’ is at the Theatre Unerground at the State Theatre Centre, James St Northbrige until July 13.
Graeme Watson
Photo by Richard Jefferson.
