Creative Collaborations’ latest production, Metalhead, is one of Fringe World 2015’s brightest and boldest theatre events.
Written by playwright Tiffany Barton and directed by James Winter, the show constructs an honest and grueling microcosm of modern Indigenous Australia, revolving around several angry, working class characters forced to spend eternity in the small, sun-scorched mining town of Fury. Half-siblings Jake and Jackie come across two mysterious and alluring nomads, Mercy and Freeman. Relationships are tested as personal demons arise form the dirt-ridden landscape.
The show’s three central story lines – discussing violence, masculinity, hope, and control - smoothly interconnect over its brisk 90-minute runtime. Its fusion of a pulsating contemporary soundtrack, rustic aesthetic, and stylish choreography bolster the story’s magnetic charge. The gripping emotional current and raucous comedic interludes efficiently come together, while the production, thanks to spectacular choreography and enchanting performances, is a strong, heartfelt cross between magical-realism and rural drama-thriller. Despite the heavy subject matter, Metalhead is one of Fringe World’s most accessible and energetic theatre shows.
Guild Studio Courtyard (finished)
