Cicada

Cicada is a gorgeous World Premiere production, based on the picture book by Shaun Tan. Ostensibly aimed at children and offering the opportunity for young audiences to be more involved in the show with some brilliant educational (and fun) activities in the foyer, this show offers just as much enjoyment for adults (if not more so) in its poignant portrayal of a cicada, serving out its 17-year nymph period underground.

Starring Tim Watts and Arielle Gray and the cutest cicada puppet imaginable, we count down with Cicada as it works in a thankless office job, waiting for its time to emerge into the world. The performers have wonderful warmth and humour, and puppeteer superbly, working with Cicada, his faceless two-dimensional boss, and an assortment of exquisite props, designed, and constructed by Amalia Lambert. 

What appears to be a simple office setting reveals some wonderful surprises, to create some theatrical magic thanks to a beautiful design by Tyler Hill and an inspired lighting design for Chloe Oglivie - also sounding great with a score by composer Jonathon Jie Hong Yang and sound design by Tim Collins.

While the child audience is kept rapt throughout (the urgent whispered commentary of seven-and-a-half-year-old twins sitting behind me showed that they were completely invested from start to finish), adult audiences will love the layered social commentary and the wonderful enmeshing of sadness with multi-levelled comedy and uplifting emotion.

As clever and moving as previous collaborations from these creatives including Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer and New Owner, this production will have broad appeal.

A must-see for young families, I suggest adults who love thoughtful theatre borrow a child to take, or just take themselves - a treat for all.

Kimberley Shaw

Images: Mac1Photography

Tour details

Koorliny Arts Centre (Kwinana) 16 – 19 August

Mandurah Performing Arts Centre 23 – 24 August

Harvey Recreation and Cultural Centre 26 – 27 August

Queens Park Theatre (Geraldton) 31 Aug – 1 September

Broome Civic Centre 8-9 September