Unit 4

Unit 4
Dislocate in association with the Seymour Centre. The Reginald, Seymour Centre, Sydney. Sep 28 – Oct 15.

Do the lives of past tenants in all their full-bodied experiences of love, loss, pain and pleasure manage to permeate a space and exist with in the walls where they once took place? That is the concept that Melbourne based company Dislocate’s production of Unit 4 attempts to address.

This is a piece of movement based theatre inspired by companies such as Legs on the Wall and Circus Oz. Staged in the Seymour Centre’s, downstairs space The Reginald - which is usually the home to more traditional productions - it is really quite interesting to see the use of this space in a new and innovative way, thanks in-part to the centre‘s Artistic Director and General Manager Tim Jones.

Of course The Reginald does present some challenges for the performers but the clever direction by Kate Fryer manages to minimises these. Although enjoyable - the 70’s kitchen table piece is a definite standout - the production overall lacks a sophistication that is most present in the music which at times is repetitive and comes across as a little uninspired.

But that said the heroes of Unit 4 are the performers, Geoff Dunstan, Kate Fryer and Alexandera Harrison. Individually they each hold their own and are wonderful in their own right. Collectively they combine to create a force of physical theatre that is inspired and nail bitingly astounding - their bravery is compelling especially given they are working largely without safety harnesses.

This is the world premiere of Unit 4 and it is refreshing to see it on the Seymour Centre‘s bill, but as with most pieces of new theatre there is still some room for fine tuning.

Whitney Fitzsimmons

Images feature Kate Fryer (blonde), Geoff Dunstan and Alexandra Harrison (brunette). Photographer: Heidrun Lohr. 

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