Review by John Gunn, 19/4/2006 for 3CR’s “Curtain Up” – Sundays at 1pm on 855AM

This the inaugural production by SwampFox is also the first production into the new 1812 Bakery Theatre and what a great space it is, comfortable, smart, flexible and perfectly suited to productions such as “Below’ that don’t require huge sets etc.

“Below” written by Ian Wilding is set in a mining town in out back Western Australia and three characters are two British migrant half-brothers Dougie (Ron Kofler), John (Keith Hutton) in search of easy money and Dougie’s rather child like wife Sarah (Donna Cohen).   With the arrival of a travelling boxing show Dougie senses that this will be their gold mine and convinces John (who has boxed before) to enter and fight in the ‘bare knuckles’ competition.  Unfortunately while John wins the fight all goes sadly wrong and we find that the past and its secrets come back to haunt this rather dysfunctional trio for whom the battle has already been lost.

To tell more would give too much away - suffice to say it is a harsh and at times brutal tale but it is also strangely a love story that commands your attention at all times.

Director John Bishop has moved the play at a good pace and created a ‘heat and dust’ atmosphere of desolation, hardship and a sense of loss .    The three actors are uniformly excellent bringing to life these sad almost feral creatures with all their ignorance, sensitivity and brutality.

The simple interior setting of the mining shack was well supported by Dietmar Brisker’s lighting and Loretta Bishop’s sound with both coming to the fore in the well choreographed fight scene – just the one actor (with great body language), the rope, the crowd noises and the singular but well focussed light – then there’s the tragic aftermath.

To sum up a very good production of this 2000 Griffin Award winning play and a fitting start to the new 1812 Theatre’s Bakery performing space, I really look forward to seeing more at this venue, be it recitals, plays or cabaret.

This quality production is highly recommended for theatregoers who can take the language and like ‘strong stuff’.  “Below” plays until the 29/4 at 8.30pm and is well worth seeing and you can book on 9735 2802 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it