RUINS أطلال
Ruins أطلال is an intriguing and emotionally charged performance at The Downstairs Theatre at Belvoir St Theatre for 25A.
The 40-minute piece is a fast-paced performance that closely explores the close-knit relationships with homelands, migration to Australia, culture and family through physical expression.
Ruins is presented with Clockfire Theatre, an independent theatre company based on physical improvisation and ensemble collaboration driven by their training at Jacques Lecoq Theatre School. This company is run by two of the performers, Emily Ayoub and Madeline Baghurst. Ayoub and Baghurst are the writers and directors of Ruins; their expertise and experience with movement and physical theatre was clearly reflected in this performance.
Amelia Alyssa (Emily Ayoub) plans a trip to Baalbek in Lebanon, a place of family history for herself. On her journey there her dad, Joe (Tony Poli) shadows her and narrates the performance inferring his recent death. This was a trip they had planned together. In a moment of a flashback, Alyssa is locked out and bangs on a door when Joe, her father, dies by Alyssa’s daughters side. This moment was striking - extremely emotionally charged and intense. The shock created tears in my eyes due to the incredible delivery from Ayoub. The intimate connection between these characters was admirable and was expressed particularly through this emotionally driven scene.
Alongside these characters, there are three ensemble members. Adam Al Kuheli, Madeline Baghurst and Piumi Wijesundara transform into different characters (verbal and non-verbal) whilst creating a range of shapes with their bodies. With only minimal props, a desk and a door are creatively converted into other objects to guide the audience. The staging was impressive, pushing the performers' bodies physically to reflect creative storytelling. Within such an intimate theatre, the ensemble members were seen with sweat dripping off their faces and were fully committed to the performance.
The play’s style differs from a realism linear performance where depictions and purpose left room for interpretation and creative understanding for the audience rather than being force-fed a storyline. It explored spiritual connection and a strong history of the Baalbek ruins. As an audience member who is less familiar and has had less exposure to physical theatre, I felt there were moments of obscurity regarding the storyline that kept me thinking and questioning throughout the performance. The strong emotions explored were at times overwhelming for such as fast 40 minutes, where I felt more time to sit in these moments could result in a deeper audience connection.
Other performance elements like sound and video design elevated the performance. On the stage there was a live flauntist that seamlessly blended with the soundscape. The incorporation of an embedded soundscape underneath the whole performance, and the usage of a child's voice progressed the storyline and united well. The video design by Laura Turner was impressive, transporting us to Baalbek. The videos were not only used on the wall but on props like a piece of silk fabric and the door, creating clear and creative imagery of the location for the audience.
Ruins is an emotionally-driven movement performance that explores the cultural experience of many migrant Australians whilst continuing exploration of their own heritage.
Conceived and Co-directed by Emily Ayoub and Madeline Baghurst
Written by Emily Ayoub, Madeline Baghurst and Mine Cerci
Ruins is running from 1-20 October,
Tickets can be purchased here
