As a part of the celebration of its 35th birthday, The Blue Room put on a showcase of 5 works in an hour that were built through a development process with theatre as a commemoration of the work The Blue Room has done for decades. The five pieces explored a full range of performance techniques, styles, and forms, highlighting the incredibly diverse talent that exists in this city.
Seven Fives Are (Question Mark)
I’m a sucker for contemporary music performance in theatre and this piece really nailed it. An intense rhythmic whirlwind exploring biculturalism and familial relationships, it was enchanting to watch. Featuring Naoko on the saxophone and Aya on the drum working together on a semi-improvisational cacophony of breath, beats, and power. Naoko had an eerie breathy quality to her performance on the sax and underpinned a creepy, unsettling atmosphere putting the audience on edge in a captivating and entrancing sense. I would say it felt a bit uncoordinated or unpolished but it seemed to add to the hesitation of identity thrown around biculturalism that the piece’s creator was going for.
The Future We Create
A collection of poetry from Vuma Phiri that captured feelings of identity, oppression, liberation, solidarity, and happiness all in one. I saw Vuma earlier this year in Our Stories, Our Motherland, and they continue to astound, she has such an provocative style of writing that captures the real intensity of what she is speaking about and her flow reels you in to every peak of emotion and gut-wrenching callout of injustice. Even the mic feedback seemed to fall in beat to her rhythm.
Mind Body Womb
This piece takes a humorous look at our internal sense of expectation around having a child, finding a partner, and ‘settling down’. Keana Pillay and Amanda Watson navigate the societal and familial expectations of being incomplete without meeting specific milestones in life. The two work amazingly well in duet and bounce of each other with rapid pace, it fell a bit off kilter for me with an inserted movement section which ground the pace and tension down but the two were able to smash this into a deep cut ending.
Mogra
Swaroopa Prameela Unni delves into the experience of migration through traditional dance forms and personal stories to unpack the complexities of identity across international borders. Swaroopa captivates while jumping between the personal stories of her wedding, journey across parts of the world, and into dance which is just lovely to watch. Swaroopa is a fantastic performer who really draws you in with her witty humour and gorgeous dance.
Pour The Tea
A quick glance into the stress inducing ceremony of pre wedding tea ceremonies traditional to Chinese families. I had a very very basic understanding of the intensity of rules around tea ceremonies but Ange Yang has an enthralling and hilarious style that highlights the absurdity but seriousness of this ritual. Ange delivers an enrapturing performance, leaving the audience constantly laughing. Even with audience interaction, which can often be cringe-inducing, Ange holds the stage and audience while staying genuinely educational.
The Blue Room Theatre continues to stand as a place of inspiration, guidance, and opportunity for many independent artists and gives hope for the future of art in this country and city. Here’s to at least another 35.