Reviews

Israel Horovitz is a writer who clearly believes in the stabilising force of destiny. He brings together characters who are incongruously placed in some very unusual social circumstances. He overturns a range of notions that would dictate social decorum to prioritise a human instinct to naturally form bonds with those whose shared history and connections cannot be denied. In fact, this is depicted as holistically healing and gratifying.

Advertised as “Think Chinese Top Gun meets 007 with a J-Pop backing track!”, Skyduck is not your usual comedy. In fact, there is little that is ‘usual’ about this production – except for the fact that it is ‘theatre’ in the very broadest sense of the word. It uses a multitude of old and new theatrical devices, from puppets to projections, and plot, described as “a rollicking tale of international espionage”, mixes features of theatre of the absurd with commedia dell’arte and musical theatre.

Once you unwrapped the campery, Oracle is an artful surprise. 

I wasn’t expecting such a power-pumping burlesque of aerial athleticism, kaleidoscopic lighting and dramatic costuming and headdresses adorning such skimpy-clad bodies, all 18 of them dancing and preening to a rush of contemporary hits.   

There is a wealth of fine new young voices in the arts. Whether in words or music, they are making themselves heard. They are open, intelligent, articulate, talented and courageous – because they break boundaries, lift taboos. They don’t preach, or moralise! They say, “This is how it is. This is how we are dealing with it. We want to share it.”