“Rules are only important in cricket, and the scholarly editing of ancient texts.”
St. Jude’s players present “Breaking the Code”, a performance with excitable monologues, an engaging Alan Turing, and mathematical equations and theories. Add in a sprinkling of the still unanswered question of the use of artificial intelligence having human emotions, and you have a performance that spans decades. The focus of the story is not on solving the enigma for the World War II effort, but on Turing’s life before and after, offering glimpses of his home life, his love interests, and his struggles.
Brant Eustice shines as Alan Turing, with an expressive face, presence and passion on stage that brought Turing to life in the most positive, and almost reverent way. Jamie Black and Peter Davies are imposing in their roles of law enforcement, driven by the law and encouraging Turing to do what is right by it. David Lockwood is amusing and engaging as Dillwyn Knox – his humour and delivery both well-timed and enjoyable. Rhonda Grill and Tianna Cooper are both elegant and loving as Mrs Turing and Pat Green, respectively, bringing the women in Turing’s inner circle to life in a considered and respectful manner. Sebastian Hollingsworth and Nicholas Koulioubus bring their own variations of explosive passion to both the stage and Turing’s life – along with fun, impeccable wardrobes. Together, this cast is a perfectly balanced equation.
The stage is simple, but every inch has been meticulously set up, blocked out, and lit up in the most flattering and effective way to tell each chapter of the story … because each scene in “Breaking the Code” is a change of year and location, playing out like chapters. If you are not intimately familiar with the story of Alan Turing, I highly recommend picking up a program so you can follow along with the time jumps with more ease. You will have no problems knowing which location the scene is set at, with the visual aids on the back wall paired with the well-thought-out set layouts. Together with the simple lighting and minimalistic music which work seamlessly to set the tone, St. Jude’s players present a vibrant retelling of Alan Turing’s story.
For anyone worried they wouldn’t be able to follow along with the mathematics, there is nothing to worry about, because Turing does all the equations, and explains anything that is story-related on stage.
“Breaking the Code” is interesting, funny, and thought-provoking, even if you have already found yourself questioning artificial intelligence and human relations. You may even find yourself asking the same question as Turing did: Was God a mathematician?
To book tickets to Breaking The Code, please visit https://stjudesplayers.asn.au/.
Photographer: Tim Stoeckel
