Review: Incendia
The closing weekend of the 2023 Anywhere Festival included a special hub of performances at the Yeronga Paint Factory. A really wonderful idea by Paul Osuch, Festival Director, as The Paint Factory offers so very many nooks and crannies for performances—and having a festival hub allowed for great side conversations, and the chance to go to squish in an extra show or two.
Verum Arts’ debut production, Incendia had six performances during the Anywhere Festival closing weekend. I really liked the ideas behind this show; an anthology of ‘stories at the end of the world,’ set within a bunker, providing the opportunity to explore what we might all ‘hold most dear at the end of everything.’
My congratulations to the writers (Jake Brown, Arina Dara and Carlo Versace) on the concept; I’d like to have had a less linear feel to the history, but the going back in time worked well and it was interesting to see the reappearance of certain items in the different tales. Some of the Incendia messaging was a little didactic, but the discussions about ‘what is the purpose of living down here,’ ‘we can’t let it end with us,’ and ‘do you really think this is all going to blow over’ were thought-provoking and worked within the story. The scene that worked best for me was the discussion between the partners who realised that a lack of access to insulin was going to limit any remaining time together (Incendia cast list: Jake Brown, Nathan Chan, Ernest Corbet, Arina Dara, Sabrina Johnston, Max Phythian, and Carlo Versace).
Picture: A poignant moment in Incendia (credit: Creative Futures Photography)
Picture: Incendia (credit: Creative Futures Photography)
Picture: Incendia (credit: Creative Futures Photography).
The Paint Factory space selected by the team (Nathan Chan [Producer], Sam Watkins [Director] and Jake Brown [Assistant Director]) was a perfect choice for the ‘bunker’ and the soundscape (Arina Dara, sound design) was appropriate and really helped set the mood. Costumes worked well (Sabrina Johnston), particularly the intriguing masks in the opening scene. The set design (Max Phythian) was appropriate, but I did find myself wondering if it would have been better to play this show in the round—or at least with the audience on three sides. This may have also helped with the sound, as it was often difficult to hear the discussions between the performers.
Congratulations to Verum Arts on bringing this debut production to the stage; it’s no mean feat to put together your first Festival show. Anywhere Festival is a great place for work in development, and I hope that the experience inspires the team to work on improving this show.
Verdict: An interesting debut production.
Picture: Incendia (image credit: Creative Futures Photography)
Audience tip: Incendia was at The Paint Factory, Yeronga (two shows on each of 19-21 May, 2023). 45 minutes, no interval. Mature themes and occasional coarse language (I suggest 15+). Tickets $17-20 (general admission), Free street parking available.
The reviewer attended the 21 May 2023 7pm performance.