Competition can be invigorating, but also dramatic and soul destroying. That is the theme of the two parter created under the auspices of Theatre Works’ Early Career Artists’ Program. As you enter the theatre for Part I, named The Volition Project, you are handed several tokens by one of the actors. On those tokens are the names of roles, such as Moral Compass, Comic Relief, Nepo Baby, Problematic, Darkhorse, Villain and Token Gay.
The other actors are separated on a bare stage. You are asked to designate what role each actor should play by placing a relevant token into the palm of one of their hands. In other words, we have control, making each performance different. Great idea and a real test of the actors’ skillset.
Thereafter, the players undertake a series of tests, in pairs and individually, including a Bunnings’ sausage challenge with a difference and dunking for apples. Losers are eliminated – permanently. This is Survivor mixed with theatre of the absurd. There is no shortage of name calling and dance, while a few exponents grab a microphone and climb a surf lifesaver highchair to extol their virtues. I appreciated the diversity of roles created (10 in all), but frankly I wasn’t sure what the point of it all was.
I was more in tune with the second part, called The Volition Experiment. It appears to be a good example of a dystopian society. Six people are thrown together in some lonely, isolated backwater (I saw it as outer space) and must undertake a series of real-time challenges to stay in the game. In this case, my mind wandered to Big Brother. The questions they are asked increase in intensity. For example, who is the most likely to die alone? Who is the most likely to betray the others? Juicy. Eliminations bring with them sad musical refrains and surprise reappearances. As time passes, frustration boils over and hope for a better life appears to be lost.
Intense, exaggerated and amusing performances are the order of the day. In short, the enthusiastic cast has fun with the weird and wacky material with which they work. Creative costuming, including a gas mask, foil and plastic wrap is par for the course. Volition certainly fits the bill of imaginative independent theatre. This is material for selective tastes, which is open to interpretation. It is playing at Theatre Works’ Explosives Factory until 7th September, 2024.
Alex First
Other reviews you might enjoy:
- Social Dance (Theatre Works’ Explosives Factory) – theatre review
- Swansong (Theatre Works’ Explosives Factory) – theatre review
- Turn, Turn, Turn (Theatre Works’ Explosives Factory) – theatre review
Alex First is a Melbourne based journalist and communications specialist. He contributes to The Blurb on film and theatre.
