KABOOM

14 April 2014 Comment

”KaBooM is based on real stories of Australians who have fought on the frontline. Australians who fled to this country to escape conflict and build new lives. Each of the tales serves as a basis for 7 leading independent theatre directors to create a theatrical response. They use the body of one female performer (Deborah Leiser-Moore), who, like a contemporary Scheherazade, functions as the central storyteller – and an arsenal of contemporary theatrical weapons – projections, aerial work, pulsing sound track from Bigtoxic – and elements – water, tomatoes, hay – to create a series of interlocking performance vignettes. KaBooM positions the audience, as witness, into the midst of the performance arena, into a metaphorical field of war, where they are led to discrete performance areas. There is no fourth wall – the sense of involvement and engagement is direct. KaBooM is both deeply personal and universal – as you read these words there is a war going on in several corners of the globe. The waves created by the “BooM”in KaBooM are sonic, emotional, psychological and physical; they all coalesce in this one unique theatrical event.” -Taken from the Fortyfive Downstairs listing. When I like ‘theatre’ it is often because the work traverses the genre of ‘theatre’ and becomes something else altogether. Theatre of cruelty, promenade theatre, experimental theatre, performance art - these are all elements of ‘theatre’ that I enjoy. I like it when theatre takes itself apart, surgically acknowledges itself and its form, when it is more than ” audience sit here, actors do this, this is the show.” Now, I’m not saying that KaBooM: Stories From Distant Frontlines surgically dissects itself - but it is more than a ‘theatre event.’ It utilizes space, data projection and video in multiple ways (the documentary corrupted, the experimental animation etc) and it gently assaults its audience. It is visually delicious. It is heartbreaking, and powerful and beautiful. It is enveloping. You should see this. You should experience this work. Congratulations Deborah + your team. Astounding work, beautiful.