New Cabaret Under The Microscope at Fringe Festival

Images of illness or injury instantly come to mind when learning the title of new Adelaide theatre company Under The Microscope’s very first show. Scarred For Life’s narrative does indeed have a tie-in with health, but there’s a much more multi-layered and unique story behind the company and the show than one might imagine, with big stars involved. Lesley Reed reports.

Under The Microscope is a new Adelaide independent theatre company that aims to help ease the struggle young artists face as they attempt to close the ‘emerging’ vs ‘established artist’ divide.

Founded by Matthew Briggs, former producer and director of Briggs & Heaysman Theatre Company, the new company’s mission is to support emerging artists by developing their skills beyond University or TAFE, including providing networking opportunities and contacts in the industry. These aims will be achieved through a project-specific mentorship program, which for the company’s first show involves Cabaret stars Michael Griffiths and Amelia Ryan.

In addition, the company seeks to create innovative theatrical spaces outside of a conventional theatre environment and to encourage artists to develop unconventional ideas; to ‘think outside the box’. Importantly, Under The Microscope’s emerging artists are all paid semi-professional rates.

Matthew Briggs directed three productions for Briggs & Heaysman Theatre Co: The Angel of Death, The Sentient Arrow and the Australian Premiere of Trey Parker’s Cannibal! The Musical. He previously stage managed Emily Steel’s award-winning plays, Sepia and Rocket Town.

Besides his theatre experience, Briggs has a scientific background and is completing his PhD in science with a focus on ovarian cancer and osteoarthritis research. This medical science connection is where Under The Microscope’s genesis is very different than most.

“I am very passionate about both science and the arts,” he said, “so I decided to incorporate a scientific theme into my new theatre company. The microscope stage was that theme, as it is symbolic of the theatrical stage. It is where we artists experiment with new ideas and discover what elements make us human.  I am using both my creativity and logic to achieve the best outcome for the research. It is the same when I am directing a play or musical. I am using both my creativity and logic to create the best experience for the audience.”

Under The Microscope’s first show is being presented at the Adelaide Cabaret Fringe Festival. Scarred For Life is written by emerging singer/songwriter Josh Belperio. It’s a cabaret show with fresh, original songs in the style of Tim Minchin and Eddie Perfect.

Tying in to Matthew Briggs’ medical science background, Belperio’s performance in Scarred For Life also has its origins in health, or in his case, a life-threatening accident. Belperio, a recent graduate of the Elder Conservatorium, majoring in music, tells the story of how he survived flying over the handlebars of his pushbike, rupturing his spleen and nearly bleeding to death. He attempts to make sense of the experience, along with the broader ways in which trauma has altered, shaped and redefined who he is.

Josh’s songs strike a balance between comedy and pathos as he recalls his ‘finer moments’ in hospital: from his partner watching him urinate into a bottle, to hallucinating that he was a hexagon…of all things.

“Beneath the surface, Josh explores how we endure our most painful moments, the people we rely on when we are at our most vulnerable, and how they help us through adversity,” said Matthew Briggs. “He also details other stories from his life, such as falling in love, being hurt and growing up. Ultimately, Josh asks what it means to be scarred. How do we rebuild ourselves, stronger, wiser and more hopeful than before?”

The show features an innovative seating plan where audience members will be invited to sit on bean bags and couches around the grand piano.

“Our aim was to design an audience environment that feels just like home,” said Briggs. “This was important to us because cabaret is such a personal art form.”

Prior to his accident, Josh Belperio had accompanied countless comedy and cabaret artists, across all major Adelaide Festivals. This included David Gauci in the Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2015, for which he composed the title song, ‘It Was Worth the Weight’.

True to Under The Microscope’s vision, fabulously talented and experienced mentors have supported Belperio for his performance in Scarred For Life. In 2016, he approached award-winning cabaret artists Michael Griffiths and Amelia Ryan to workshop the show and participated in their Let's Talk Cabaret workshop during May 2016.

He performed a selection of the songs for the Adelaide Festival Centre’s Greenroom Speakeasy in the 2016 Adelaide Cabaret Festival.

In late 2016 Belperio received a Helpmann Academy Grant to fund his mentorship with Michael Griffiths and Amelia Ryan and also undergo singing training for the first time with Rosanne Hosking.

Previously, while he enjoyed studying for his degree, he had felt confined by the limited options available to those majoring in classical composition.

“I wasn’t able to take singing lessons or even piano lessons, nor was I able to learn cabaret or musical theatre writing. Which is odd,” he said, “because the Conservatorium talked a lot about the need for us to develop ‘portfolio careers’, where we are proficient in many different areas of music. But their program was structured in such a way that they only allowed us to study and gain practical experience in one highly specialised area of music. That is why I am so glad to be working with Under The Microscope and developing other skill sets, through their mentorship program with fantastic Adelaide-based artists.”

Scarred For Life will feature the lighting design of Mark Oakley who has recently returned from the United States tour of The Young King by Adelaide-based theatre company, Slingsby.  The production is also expertly supported by sound engineer and production manager, Colin Griffin, who is known for his work with Adelaide-based opera and dance companies.

Health and handlebars, science and spleens; it’s an unusual and intriguing mix to put under the cabaret microscope.

One thing’s for certain, Scarred For Life is sure to be great medicine for Adelaide cabaret lovers longing for the fine, innovative cabaret to come in this year’s Fringe and Festival programs.

WHERE: Carclew Ballroom, 11 Jeffcott St, North Adelaide

WHEN: 22nd-24th of June 2017 at 7:30pm (doors open at 7pm)

TICKETS: AllTIx $25

BOOKINGS: http://www.cabaretfringefestival.com/scarred-for-life/  

Photos: Sue Belperio

Videography: Christopher Warman