Printable CopyCREATION CREATION
Windmill Theatre
The Space
Until 29 May 2021

Review by Janice Bailey

Windmill Theatre’s production of ‘Creation, Creation’ is indeed a creation of amazing artistry and technology, posing the big questions about the meaning of life. How did life begin? When and how will it end – and what’s it all about anyway?

Windmill Theatre is well-known for its productions which take the audience into a world of imagination and fiction. Creation Creation is Windmill’s first foray into the world of documentary theatre – hopefully there will be more. Director Rosemary Myers began developing the project in Renmark over five years ago as a collaboration with CountryArtsSA and Sandpit. Roslyn Oades, a leading documentary theatre maker, supported by Georgi Paech, conducted interviews throughout the community with people from 8-102 – from these interviews, the script was born.

Composer Harry Covill, lighting designer Chris Petridis and movement consultant Carol Wellman Kelly became part of the team, bringing Creation Creation to life. Co-creators and Designers Jonathan Oxlade as Jox and Fleur Elise Noble as Fleur are also the featured actors leading the audience through the maze of questions that need answers, with amazing energy and talent.

The set is all white as are the overalls worn by Jox and Fleur and is a feat in engineering. The ‘big’ questions of life are addressed with many leaving the audience wondering and often ‘squirming’ in their seats. Dan Cleasby as the AUSLAN interpreter added another layer to the performance. The piece has been written to challenge our thinking about many of the ‘big’ questions and it certainly succeeds. It is also funny – aimed toward children 8+, most of the adults present were totally involved and chuckling.