Night Night is the latest production by West Australian company The Last Great Hunt and lives up to its description as ‘a captivating blend of theatre, puppetry, and digital magic’.
The story follows Pip, an Antarctic scientist on a quest to uncover the origins of life. Haunted by visions of an albino penguin, Pip stumbles upon a hidden plane of existence that challenges her understanding of reality. The narrative is both heartwarming and thought-provoking, exploring themes of environmental conservation, perseverance and personal responsibility.
Night Night.
Night Night is totally unique in its presentation and visual story-telling. The show is described as a live film experience, combining puppets, animation, and ‘DIY’ digital effects. This blend of mediums creates a visually stunning performance that transports the audience to different worlds without the need for elaborate sets or scripts. The captivating and engaging puppet is human in its reactions and sounds (and totally adorable) but elevates the magic as he glows, flies and transforms. The coordination required from the actors to pull off 55 minutes of detailed prop work and transitions is a testament to their undoubtedly extensive rehearsals.
Night Night.
The supporting production elements behind Night Night are also noteworthy. The original composition and snippets of language spoken is totally original to the Last Great Hunt and Night Night. With only minimal scripting, the soundtrack is a powerful and effective tool to pull us along for the emotional highs and lows of the narrative.
Night Night’s key strength is that it is accessible to many ages and abilities of audience members while still delivering a powerful impact. In a day/week/life of chaos, urgency and noise Night Night is a welcome meditation. Its inventive use of puppetry and digital effects, combined with a compelling story, makes it easy to lose yourself in the Antarctic and appreciate the elements that push the boundaries of traditional theatre.
Night Night is on at Perth Festival from Feb 26-Mar 2.