Categories: Reviews

The Complete Package

 It is always encouraging when a new Theatre company opens in Sydney with the promise of a new creative performance space in the heart of Newtown. Sydney Independent Theatre Company located on Alice Street Newtown is such a company, with an inventive use of what would normally be a warehouse space. 

 Presented by: Sydney Independent Theatre CompanyVenue: Sydney Independent Theatre Company, Alice St Newtown Wednesday, 13 October, 2011  It is always encouraging when a new Theatre company opens in Sydney with the promise of a new creative performance space in the heart of Newtown. Sydney Independent Theatre Company located on Alice Street Newtown is such a company, with an inventive use of what would normally be a warehouse space.
The Complete Package is their premiere work and it is an interesting story about frustration, the difficulties of life and the search for satisfaction.
Written by Robert Allan this play reveals the struggles of a mundane job, searching for a long lost child and identity. It is a complex stage play with numerous characters that interconnect with the common themes. It works as a production but sometimes can get a little tough to follow.
Directed by Artistic Director Julie Baz, she has created something that really works with the senses. It is visually stimulating, vocally interesting, challenging for the mind and you can even smell the paint of the set that reminds you of an office. 
Cherilyn Price as struggling, unsatisfied office worker Rhonda is really enjoyable to watch on stage and has a great presence. Lana Kershaw as Georgie is kind and caring as you would expect a good foster mother. David Jeffrey as Damien is quite amusing as a tai-chi practicing jailbird.
This is an exciting performance space in Sydney that was desperately required, the production is an interesting creation and it is worthwhile allowing the actors to settle with the performance before viewing but it is only on for a very limited season. The only criticism would be that in this huge cavernous space distorts the dialogue and it can be a little difficult to understand at time. Overall it is exciting that Sydney has a new theatre company that is producing contemporary Australian work.
The Complete Package is playing at Sydney Independent Theatre Company and tickets are available through www.sitco.net.au
Follow Matt D’Silva on Twitter @MattDSilva 

Matthew D'Silva

Matthew has over fourteen years of experience in Sydney’s Theatre industry working alongside numerous prominent theatre companies. He has written articles and reviews for SameSame, Arts Hub, Stage Whispers and of course AussieTheatre. He is currently in the final stages of his degree in creative writing and thinks he might be addicted to live performance!

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