Review by Tatum Stafford
Black Swan Theatre Company’s 2024 programming has incredibly impressive - and the all-star lineup of local talent currently appearing in Lucy Kirkwood’s The Children at the Heath Ledger Theatre is testament to this.
Set in a nondescript time period, but inspired by the events around the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, The Children is a stunning piece of theatre that handles heavy thematic material with charm, honesty, and many a thoughtfully placed, witty one-liner.
The show centres on Hazel and Robin, two former nuclear scientists who have relocated to a small cottage following a nuclear incident that has left their home square in the radiation zone. When one of their ex-colleagues Rose arrives at their home unexpectedly, armed with a proposition, the trio are propelled to think about their past, their age, and as the show’s title suggests, the kind of world their children are destined to inhabit.
It is a play centring on its characters and offers an intensive character study through dialogue, movement, subtext, and even the most subtle of acknowledgements between characters as the story unfolds.
The cast of this production are simply phenomenal. Nicola Bartlett displays exceptional range as Hazel; offering one of the more level-headed perspectives into a situation that would intimidate many audience members watching the story unfold. She is dynamic yet reserved, and a beautiful foil to the more chaotic and free-wheeling Rose, portrayed with unabashed flair and authority by Caroline Brazier.
Brazier is a force onstage; exuding energy and barrelling through monologues of material with admirably natural delivery. She is reunited with Humphrey Bower after their award-winning performances in Things I Know To Be True at Black Swan last year. Bower is cheeky and similarly brimming with energy as Robin.
The trio work incredibly together, and made the show’s 1 hour 40 minute runtime go by in a blink. The pacing and interpretation of Lucy Kirkwood’s dynamic and moving script is a masterclass in performance that is such a treat to see unfold.
The set design by Bruce McKinven is immediately striking and beautifully lit by Matt Marshall’s stunning design. As the show progresses, the perimeter of the set reflects the characters’ unease, and this is very visually impactful to watch. Rachael Dease’s atmospheric composition and sound design affirms the sense of unease and apprehension that hangs in the air in every gap of conversation, or every reference to ‘the incident’ - very powerful.
Mel Cantwell’s direction is precise and helps evoke a sense of claustrophobia in the small kitchen room the characters find themselves circling throughout the play.
This is a fantastic piece of theatre, a fantastic piece of writing, and a fantastic display of some of the best local talent to grace Perth’s stages. Don’t miss out on seeing it.
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