Love Lust Lost

Love Lust Lost are all emotions that are experienced in this impressive immersive theatre adventure. The nautical theme of the production is playfully and often facetiously explored in all its aspects and avenues. The characters who inhabit this fictional sea vessel are alluring, captivating, amusing and all incredibly sensual in their stylised movement, singing, acrobatics and dancing. The experience begins the moment you step on board where you find a welcoming and enchanting sea faring atmosphere.

The staging of this production at the historical theatre, The Austral, in Collingwood breathes new life into this old, dilapidated building, which is sadly destined to be demolished. The vessel that is created takes you deep into an underwater world that immediately conjures up a variety of cultural notions of this mysterious space. The production draws on a variety of nautical texts across literature, film, television, and music and brings its own delectable flavour to the experience. The detail in the staging and set design truly encourages a wanderlust across the vast cavernous and labyrinth style space. The set and staging are animated with imaginative lighting and sound effects, creating different and often contrasting chambers. The attention to detail in conjuring up this sea faring ambience is nothing less than magnificent. Although the performance appears to be ad hoc and unpredictable, it is in fact a well guided and curated experience. 

The audience is welcomed aboard by Captain Anderson (Sandro Colarelli) with stunning theatrics and his majestic presence sets the tone for the production. A range of alluring human and sea creatures inhabit or haunt the vessel: Claude (Chloe Towan), Chef Stefano (Kristian Šantić), Salacia (Meg Hickey), Trink (Sho Eba), The Sea Creature (Callum Mooney), Chan (Jeremy Lloyd), and Sandy (Bri Emrich). They are all incredibly charming characters and easily draw you into their beguiling performances. They often emerge out of nowhere and magically disappear into the mist of the set in a very mystical fashion. The spaces are varied and suggestive of both tame and wild activities, and the experience is far from merely surreal as it is possible to emerge from the show with a real tattoo, if you dare. 

This production delivers all the promise and excitement of immersive theatre and creates a truly luscious and unique event that would be madness to miss.

Patricia Di Risio 

Photographer: Jeff Busby