Papillon Unplugged

Papillon Unplugged
La Petite Grande Theatre, Petrie Plaza, Canberra. 12–22 July 2018

Facing a small auditorium, on an even smaller stage, a friendly welcome of seemingly unrehearsed candour followed by a welcoming song in similar style introduced a range of acts that, if original only in minor details, had the virtue of being unmistakably close up and thereby occasionally a test of audience nerve.

 

This short production used minimal equipment and a very intimate audience setting to offer a homely we’re-all-friends-here camaraderie that worked rather well in raising audience appreciation of circus- and cabaret-format acts with little of the polish or style imbuing professional performances.  This is theatre in the miniscule, and that suits its purpose well.  The fact is that every live performer has to begin somewhere, and offering shows in special small settings such as the temporary spiegeltent named La Petite Grande Theatre offers audience members an inside look at how the seasoned professionals who never make a mistake on stage have their beginnings.  A warm (with a very good heater!) and welcoming break on a cold night.

John P. Harvey

Subscribe to our E-Newsletter, buy our latest print edition or find a Performing Arts book at Book Nook.