Offering five separate perspectives of oppression, suppression, and corruption across different cultures but with the same result of division and pathos, Worlds Alive presented plays and excerpts as if listening to a radio. In a current world of media and without costumes, a set or lighting, the spotlight was on the beauty or directness of the word. It required concentration and some stamina but was well worth it.
Kunene and the King presented two people from opposing cultures and with past apartheid history hanging overhead. With one person ageing and the other caring for the aged, the audience was hoping for a developing friendship. Despite the antagonism due to a disappointment of the present socio-political environment, eventually deep conversations led to an understanding. Both actors generated a connection with well-rehearsed readings intertwined with the beauty of King Lear but also the foolishness of misunderstanding and ageing. With no set, the language was all the audience had and a powerful message was relayed of how mis-communication results in missing the opportunity for understanding and peace.
Miss Margarita’s Way – it was a hard act to follow the first powerful play. The actor offered a dark comedic vignette of suppression and indoctrination starting with youth. It left people quite rightly nervous of being in her space!
An Evening at the Opera – a couple at war with themselves and with a history of their despotic family ties and corruption, the relationship erupts as the dictator focuses on a macho-style leadership of ‘bread and circuses’ to appear as a benevolent dictator. At the same time, his wife, who has come from a line of family dictators, faces herself literally in the mirror and has to come to terms with who she is and what she has become. With her mother’s ghost offering dutiful female advice from the past, the future looks bleak. The actors each kept the audience uncomfortable enough to recognise the underlying political corruption with the overlay of a marriage and family dynasty.
Night Picture of Rain Sound – a reader questions the symbolism of Romeo and Juliet, offering a different perspective and possible outcome. The actor presented quietly and thoughtfully how we should question what we are supposed to believe, perform or be and for what purpose really?
The Struggle of the Naga Tribe – the full ensemble presented as a Greek chorus swapping roles to offer different perspectives. There were the corrupt business developers deliberately misinterpreting and demonstrating the results of economic progress to the benevolent but corrupt government who choose to ignore the impact on a peaceful village. Other voices included the village leader and people recognising too late that they have also been sold a story and that their culture and soul has been sold at a huge price. The actors powerfully presented alternating points of view with a sobering ending of ‘too little, too late’.
The audience listened carefully, absorbing and resonating with the social messages applauding each piece as a separate entity. It was at times bald, poetic and informative and well worth the effort.
To book tickets to Worlds Alive 2026, please visit https://www.scenetheatresydney.net.au/.
