This kind of ruckus

With their goal being to make performance through collaboration, enacting democracy and addressing issues which are both political and intensely personal, Sydney-based version 1.0’s ensemble of artists explore and perform innovative, powerful and intentionally disturbing theatre.

By integrating found texts from a myriad of public sources, such as media declarations, TV shows and court transcripts, then combining them with personal stories lived by the performers themselves, version 1.0 has created This kind of ruckus, an alcohol-fuelled performance about sexual abuse and violence in today’s culture. The show looks into and explores the coming together of a relationship, and the destruction of it.

What initially appears to be abstract and unclear, meanders and begins to make sense in an uneasy, spine chilling all too familiar way. Vignettes and splashes of stories which have been deconstructed and torn open for the audience to initially feel in a sort of primal way, then to identify with and accept as the unfortunate norm in our society, today. Sexual assaults and violence does exist and it affects more people than we care to admit.

The over indulgence of mind altering and inhibition releasing substances has been the scapegoat for many-a-situation which spun out of control from a seemingly innocent flirtation on club’s dance floor. This kind of ruckus addresses the irresponsible behaviour of individuals who put themselves in a situation where they can become victims of sexual assault, but it also explores the behaviour of the violators... manipulative and seemingly innocent in one.

The performances are delivered with credence and impact on the psyche of the audience. There were occasional chuckles heard, in response to comments delivered by the actors while seemingly looking to ‘hook up’ with male audience members, but for the most part, the message and visuals we were exposed to, had a cringing effect on us.

This kind of ruckus does illustrate violence, sexual promiscuity and rash behaviour, and though all these can serve as part of a cautionary tale (or lesson), the performance is a vehicle to irritate the audience into awareness, and re-evaluation of what we may perceive as ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ and the gray areas which may fall between the cracks and never be considered in a situation or event which is innapropriate and scarring. I left the theatre milling the experience through my head, absorbing what I had just experienced and thinking that a This kind of ruckus should perhaps be made available on DVD to share with people who may miss it live. It's incredibly powerful and should be shared.

This Kind of Ruckus Devised by: Danielle Antaki, Sean Bacon, Arky Michael, Jane Phegan, Deborah Pollard, Christopher Ryan, Yana Taylor, Kym Vercoe and David Williams with Stephen Klinder.

Performed by: Valerie Berry, Arky Michael, Katia Molino, Kym Vercoe and David Williams.

Video art by: Sean Bacon, sound art by Gail Priest, lighting by Neil Simpson.

Version 1.0 @ the Fairfax Studio, Victorian Arts Centre – Season closed.

NOMINATED FOR BEST VISUAL OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION, 2010 HELPMANN AWARDS

This Kind of Ruckus from Sam James on Vimeo.