The Shelter | Here + There Productions
Trapped in a random person’s garage with a group of strangers and limited time to get out may not be everyone’s cup of tea or idea of a fun night out. For many, this probably sounds tantamount to volunteering yourself for torture. If you’re in that category, bear with me, because I’m going to convince you getting yourself trapped will be a highlight of your Anywhere Festival.
Sometimes I Say Your Name Out Loud | Moment of Inertia & Collectivist
As I entered the space that ‘Sometimes I Say Your Name Out Loud’ inhabited, I noticed the warm aura immediately and felt drawn to take a seat in the front row, which is unusual for me. The set and lighting felt whimsical and almost childlike, with a paper lantern in the shape of a boat hanging above the stage.
Begotten | Minola Theatre
We see the relationships the women have with men unravel from healthy and supportive to dysfunctional and abusive. We see these women losing their identities and finding themselves, embracing motherhood and running away from it and either fighting against or succumbing to the hardships in their lives.
A Bed of Roses | Arbour Theatre Company
The five improv actors were so good I kept forgetting they were acting. They did an incredible job of staying in character despite so much distraction around them, while also handling the crowd through the scene changes.
Starter Boyfriend | Squirt Productions
We ventured into the mythical but very real ‘Virginity Store’ where the performers broke into song and synchronised dancing, listing some of the many ways to define sex. They drew focus away from traditional hetero-centric ideas of penis-in-vagina virginity and celebrated all the different ways to have sex, and thus virginities to be lost. It honestly got me excited for more first times in my life. There is such a big deal made over that one first time that often we forget to celebrate the others.
SHELTER | The Drawer Productions
SHELTER is a powerful and moving performance. I’d encourage anyone interested in immersive theatre to check it out if it gets the opportunity to run again. There’s a lot more to it than what I have touched on, but a big part of the experience is going in not knowing much and watching the mystery unfold, interacting with the bunker and following the Chapman family around as their complex relationships with each other are played out for us in a close and personal way.
Prison X | UNITED NOTIONS Film & KOA.XYZ
While it borrows traditional gaming elements, it also plays our as a documentary. It’s an opportunity to learn about a different culture and heritage as well as a current society in a different part of the world. And with it being created by not only Violetta Ayala, but a team of female Andean artists and POC designers, it brings a genuine authenticity in the work that they’re sharing.
Betwixt | Pink Matter
Betwixt invited the audience into the ‘In Between’: a space where words connected to movements and movements connected to music to tell unfinished stories to unsuspecting listeners. Through an enthralling combination of spoken-word poetry and dance, Pink Matter produced a fresh storytelling experience that pulled at the heart and compelled the mind.
Peach Papaya | GoldenCoastline
There is something special that happens when dancers come to support other dancers, and that is the way their energy bounces off one another. Even when nothing is happening. The performers might be standing completely still in near complete darkness, tinted only in the softest red. This is enough to spur a shout, or a cheer, or a “Get it!”. As though true silence is forbidden.
Cluedo! The New Suspects | Brisbane Immersive Ensemble
Across the venue, blackmail, flirtations, arguments, and even a broom closet triste were playing out between the six key figures. While a number of confrontations played out in front of large gatherings of the audiences, many punters had taken to chasing after the characters who took their interest to try to catch a sliver of gossip or accusation to piece together the story. Gasps, cheers and accusations from the punters fill the space as each new twist and turn unfolded.
Mental Illness Is Not A Crime | Haus of Beaver Productions
An undulating soundscape filled the room with an otherworldly atmosphere. Tents and noise cancelling headphones littered the floor. There was a wide assortment of things to poke and scratch and put your fingers in, particularly things which excited taste, smell, and touch – senses that don’t get a lot of attention in theatre.
Intoxication | Before Shot
At its core, the show is about love and relationships and the anxiety, self-doubt, self-loathing, and questions of worth that can come along with it. Christopher addressed audience members as if they were people in his life, people he admired, desired, despised. The audience became participants, watching and being watched in the circle.
Absolute Trash | Glitter Martini
Each one of the circus acts was incredibly well-polished and a real pleasure to watch. These are circus artists with a truckload of experience under their belt, performing some quite technical tricks that had me mesmerised from the very first to the very last moment.
Sex, Lies & Betrayal – Memoirs of a Hollywood Star | JTM Productions
As we enter the room, we are soon introduced to Miss Nightingale, played by the talented Karla Hillam. Immediately I was captivated and engaged, with the intimacy of the setting it made you feel at times like a fly on the wall of something real. Karla brought the confidence required to play a charismatic Hollywood Legend, along with the elegance of a Grace Kelly, and the depth to show the struggle, pain, and haunting memories.
Sometimes I Say Your Name Out Loud | Collectivist & Moment of Inertia
As the curtain rises, we meet the three caretakers of death, the Priestess with her goddesslike aura and picturesque flower crown, Mort with her sickle and Ronnie, a janitor clown who captured our hearts with all of her imperfections and her endearing smile.
Over The Back Fence | Vulcana Circus
Boasting more than 10 different acts across four venues, this was an immersive, engaging, and exciting journey, part way between a mystery tour and the best school excursion you’ve ever been on (only with no teachers and more beer).
Ingress | Bridie Hooper
The show was richly layered with all manner of symbolism, and heavily dosed with extremely high-level acrobatics. And of course, youthful vigour is itself a kind of immortality, for who can imagine being weak when one is full of strength? In the summer of life one cannot conceive of the winter of the body. But being young is not an immunity from self reflection, self doubt, self loathing, and self flagellation.
Shanty Club | The Salty Sirens
There’s such a power to communal singing. When a large group of people can come together with a similar interest and sing in union, whether you think you’re a good singer or not, it feels special joining in on the choruses and sharing in the collective voice. Elyse and Kristy have that understanding and knew how to get the audience engaged as they built up to the final shanty which allowed members of the crowd to come up with their own lyrics for us all to sing along to.
Sludge Bank | Chance Collective
It’s favourite kind of critique of the neo-corporate capitalist system. One that gives you a reminder to keep an eye on your consumer spending power and keep your ego in check, cause yes, if you are not part of the solution, you are most definitely part of the problem. Yes it’s kind of like your eccentric aunt is scolding you but with added songs and belly laughs and stupid jokes and weird puppets and strange voiceovers and homemade props and hilarious antics and cool hair. Ah art, it’s the best way to grow as a person.