ROOM

Imagine a room in bits and pieces – the walls, the ceiling and floor, a big desk – and a whole team of people injecting life and passion into bringing these pieces to vibrant, pulsating life. Got it? No, scrap that and start again, and again, and again, and again...

That’s the plot of ROOM, a complex, extremely funny and absorbing show currently showing at the Roslyn Packer Theatre during the Sydney Festival. Created and directed by James Thierrée, who was raised by a circus family and just happens to be Charlie Chaplin’s grandson - pause, to let that sink in! – it’s an absolutely mesmerising piece of sheer theatricality. Drop everything, I recommend, and go see it!

Thierrée is in the midst of pure madness involving a large company of immensely talented performers and backstage people. They march and dance and float and fly, representing different theatrical elements – costume, music, props. Their constant building and rebuilding of the stage is excellent and, although they dance and cavort in what seems frenetic chaos, it is clearly brilliantly choreographed.

This is a show about the artistic chaos of creation. Let’s try it this way. No, that’s no good. Let’s try it that way. Yes, no, maybe... ‘I need a narrative!’ screams the director, and he speaks directly to the audience about ‘what it all means’. But there’s no perfect answer, so on he battles to find one.

There’s no doubt about the central figure in this outstanding show: with his shock of grey hair and his bend-each-way body, Thierree takes command. But with him all the way is a brilliant company on-and-back-stage, singing (yes, Thierrée has written the music as well!), playing a range of instruments, spinning on ropes, lugging scenery, always looking and sounding absolutely great.

It’s amazing how the wild speed of the performers doesn’t lead to accidental collisions. Instead we get a collection of fascinating images, art in preliminary action. 

Welcome to Australia, La Compagnie du Hanneton!

Frank Hatherley