MACHINA a new play
We recently caught up with Catarina Hebbard- the director and producer of the new Australian play Machina by Richard Jordan. Machina is part of the Laboite Indie season during May. Cat fills us in on their process and why the play is a perfect show for young adults.
Tell us about the performance.
The content of the play has such relevance in our society today. In our ever increasing digital world we are often left feeling more alone and disconnected than ever before. We have more ‘friends’
but less human contact and less intimacy. In the world where 'Machina’ exists, users are given the opportunity to make the ultimate sacrifice (their physical life) in order to upload their
consciousness and live forever in the cloud. This play asks the difficult questions: What sacrifice are you willing to make to become more connected digitally? Is it worth it? David has made the ‘ultimate sacrifice’ (his life) so he can live forever in the cloud. What we see as an audience, is the impact of this decision on his family and friends. The play is set in a world somewhere between reality and the digital realm with a cast of six incredible actors led by Kaye Stevenson as Isobel, David’s mother, who is searching for the truth behind her son’s ‘disappearance’. Due to its complex themes, we feel this is a play more suited to the Senior Drama groups specifically years 11 and 12. Educational resources have been created to ensure that teachers and students have a more holistic and connected venture. These are available to teachers who book into see the show. We are staging the premiere production of Machina by Richard Jordan as part of the La Boite indie season from the 8 – 24 May this year.
How would young people connect with the show?
Machina is about identity, connection and the difference between how we portray ourselves in person and online. The idea behind ‘Machina’ as an online world is that it is bigger and better than all the social media sites that have come before and it can do more!!!! In this digital age we are looking for the next big thing! The play explores the impact of living in an ever increasing digital world on relationships and individuals. Young people will relate to the idea of having an online identity where they can do or say things they may or may not do or say in person. They will identify with characters on awkward first dates and online chats. There are themes related to identity and sexuality as well as family tensions based on sibling rivalry. All of these elements are relevant, current and important to young people.
What styles of theatre are present in the show?
As this is a new work I have a lot of free reign to explore many styles. Realism, Brecht, Stylistic Minimalist and multi-media (on a small scale)… how you may ask? The plays main themes centre around our dependency on the digital world and how this affects our ability to connect to one another. In the writing we have real relationships portrayed by real people. In the production I will be looking to use Brechtian techniques to stage the show, mixed with realistic delivery on a stylized minimalist set and to top it off we will add a splash of multi-media.
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By Richard Jordan