The Word

This amalgam of disciplined movement, enlivening songs, rich soundscape and thoughtful words set in ambiguous spaces examines the difficulties and wonders of words.

The piece opens with a stage littered with wrapped objects and boxes of various shapes. These are used effectively to suggest the cloaked nature of communication and to define spaces throughout the performance. There is a gang narrative which highlights power relationships and an episode which interrogates the current sense that everyone must be protected from offence by removing possible offending words from use.

But the most impactful theme which weaves throughout the piece is the actors speaking and singing their own experiences of words. Cross cultural difficulties, language barriers, and the joy of connection through language create a richly layered experience for the audience.

The audience happily accepted the gentle invitation to share some of their thoughts about words and to dance.  

The choreography embodied the concerns of the piece and the ensemble movement, and an individual dance were exceptionally well executed.

The sound and lighting subtly support the actors and provide a solid backdrop for the action. There were projected words on large screens which unobtrusively marked the progression of the play and added a layer of commentary.

This piece brings words and communication to attention and gently provokes thought about how we build meaning through our daily use of words.

Ruth Richter

Photographer: Jason Cheetham.