This Is Where We Live
Feet First Collective’s This Is Where We Live is a highly poetic, unusually staged production about teenagers in a rural Australian town. Sensitively directed and beautifully acted, this moving play is fulfilling viewing.
What will strike you first is the unusual dialogue style, with some sounds, thoughts and actions verbalised rather than acted. At times it feels more like slam poetry than theatre - an interesting approach given that poetry is one of the play’s major themes. Actors also slip in and out of secondary characters.
Chloe arrives in town, to yet another school, knowing that once again she will be an outsider. Chris, the ‘weird kid’, and son of a teacher has his own pressures and also doesn’t fit the mould. Forming an unlikely friendship, we follow them as they try to find their place in the town where they live.
Switching between genres and styles, This Is Where We Live is at times highly presentational, yet at some moments pushes for extreme realism - especially in acting choices. There are some really interesting decisions made with intimacy - both with physical contact and more romantic contact - which adds to the layers of the production. Strong performances and outstanding cohesion from Lauren Beeton as Chloe and Samuel Addison as Chris, both delivering portrayals that are deep and nuanced.
Fascinating and very moving, This Is Where We Live isn’t always easy to watch, but this excellent production, is innovative, exciting, and well worth seeing.
Kimberley Shaw
Photographer: John Congear.
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