ALPHA

Following a sellout season at Melbourne’s La Mama Theatre as a part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival, Red Line Productions have brought ALPHA to The Old Fitz. ALPHA is a new Australian work created and performed by Sebastian Robinson and Tamara Natt, with Robinson in the seat as director.

Robinson and Natt tell stories from their lives using beat poetry, physical theatre, live music, cultural references, and a vajayjay dance. An exploration of queer identity, of a performer’s identity, and of modern Australian identity, the show is a physical and aural delight that entertains, charms, and touches. While not taking themselves too seriously, the performers manage to explore thought-provoking and troubling subjects with humour as well as sobriety.

Attending a preview, one expects to see technical difficulties, timing glitches and moments of awkward, but none were present. The 50 minute piece flows so expertly and smoothly that, upon its completion, the audience is left in their seats, wanting more, unsure how the last hour passed as quickly as it did. Robinson and Natt know themselves, each other, and their work so well that, even if things were to go wrong, they wouldn’t blink and neither would the audience.

The piece has been described as a “duet of poetry” which is not inaccurate, but it is important to mention the third performer, sound designer Milly O’Sullivan. O’Sullivan’s design is perfectly balanced with the onstage work creating a foundation of sound for the actors to bounce off from.

ALPHA is self-described as experimental and, as such, has moments that verge on esoteric, but the performers are demanding, surprising, and present, so the audience isn’t given a chance to disengage. And, if one happens to look away from the action momentarily, there’s live goldfish onstage to keep you entertained. So they’ve thought of everything! If you’re looking for a ‘night-cap’, go see this gem of a production hidden late at night in Woolloomooloo.

Jessica Lovelace