Songbird

Yirra Yaakin’s Songbird is a touching little play, having a season at Subiaco Arts Centre, before embarking on a WA regional tour. Written by young writer Shakara Walley and directed by Cezera Critti-Schnaars, both around the same age as the characters in this play, it augurs well for the future of indigenous theatre in WA.

Songbird tells of former couple, Brooke and Leon, who lost touch after the death of the third member of their friendship trio, her brother and his best mate, Mike. Set in rural WA, it explores themes of reconciliation, family, and loss,

Charli Strickland’s set design, made for travel, feels complete and well realised, and nicely evokes a rural pub, while their costumes, are simple but well chosen. Jolene Whibley provides an emotive and effective lighting design.

The use of song is touching and beautiful, with all three performers singing well, and the show is supported by Levi Widnell’s thoughtful sound design.

The three performers have a seemingly natural rapport and their relationships and physicality feel natural and realistic - supported by intimacy direction from Molly Tipping and fight choreography by Rubeun Yorkshire. Kira Feeney, as Brooke, the Songbird of the title, is sweet but feisty with depth of emotion, while Owen Hasluck’s Leon is keen for reunion after a long time of feeling lost and rejected. Tyren (Tre) Maclou, blessed with a warm grin, is wild and loveable in flashback scenes, while observant and thoughtful in spirit form in the present day. Much of the joy of this play is the trio of young people who, while flawed, are also very likeable.

A charming little show that should be very successful, this bittersweet story of love and loss, kept its audience engrossed.

Kimberley Shaw

Images Tori Lill.