At a time like this, in a placeless warehouse, three employees approach a possibly pointless task. Struggling to work together, they grapple with questions of inclusion and identity. They are forced to test the limits of their bodies, their cooperation and their capacity to care. Civility slips, bad behaviour escalates and reality distorts. The witching hour is here. Who will be the scapegoat?
In the making of this new work, Back to Back Theatre invites new voices into the devising room. Zoë Barry’s score is assembled from collected field recordings of bad things. Anna Cordingley’s design demands the actors’ physical participation to reach its manifestation.
MULTIPLE BAD THINGS is theatre. It is not real. But in a world where self-righteously indignant voices so often drown out the most disenfranchised and vulnerable, this theatre sometimes feels real.
Welcome to the workplace at the end of the world. They’re only saying what you’ve already been thinking.
Devisors Bron Batten, Breanna Deleo, Natasha Jynel, Simon Laherty, Sarah Mainwaring, Ben Oakes, Scott Price, Tamara Searle, Ingrid Voorendt
Directors Tamara Searle, Ingrid Voorendt
Performers Bron Batten, Simon Laherty, Sarah Mainwaring, Scott Price
Set & Costume Design Anna Cordingley
Composer & Sound Design Zoë Barry
AV Design Rhian Hinkley
Lighting Design Richard Vabre
Helpline Voiceover Rachel Griffiths
Script Consultant Melissa Reeves
Creative Development Michael Chan, Mark Deans, Alana Hoggart, Francesca Neri, Tamika Simpson
Stage Manager Alana Hoggart
Production Associate Jordi Edwards
Sound Engineer Peter Monks
Company Manager Erin Watson
Production Manager Bao Ngouansavanh
Producers Tanya Bennett, Margaret Bourke, David Miller
Executive Producer Tim Stitz
Artistic Director Bruce Gladwin
MULTIPLE BAD THINGS has been co-commissioned by Kunstenfestivaldesarts (Brussels), The Keir Foundation, The Anthony Costa Foundation, Geelong Arts Centre and Back to Back Theatre’s New Work Donor Circle, with development support from Festival d’Automn (Paris), Une Parkinson Foundation, Sidney Myer Fund and Give Where You Live.
Back to Back Theatre is supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body, the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria, and the City of Greater Geelong.