Moth

Entertainingly complex, Moth focuses on themes of mental health, friendship and how being a teen can be some of the hardest years of your life. Written by Declan Greene, it showcases warnings of mass destruction, depression, mental health, flashing lights, bullying and theatrical violence.

Moth follows two troubled teens who are friends – Claryssa and Sebastian. Sebastian is an unpopular fifteen-year-old who loves anime, while his only friend Claryssa is an emo Wiccan, and what starts out as a physical bullying attack soon turns into a whirlwind of schizophrenic delusion and religious passion.

Featuring Lucy Ansell as Claryssa and Adam Noviello as Sebastian, Moth is extremely dark – literally and theoretically. The stage is mostly pitch-black with occasional flickering or bursts of light to showcase moments of impact. The storyline also complements the eeriness of the sensitive themes.

Beautifully written to showcase the brunt mental health can have on the person suffering, along with those around them, Moth is heartfelt, funny and sad all-in-one. Illustrating the fragility of friendship juxtaposed by the comfort of it, Claryssa and Sebastian are a true depiction of what it’s like to be a teenager. 

Moth has a strong focus on dialogue. There’s a lot of it, and it was impressive to see the pair produce this incredible story without a single stumble of words. The whole production is played out with two or three props to really showcase the importance of the dialogue. It’s beautiful, it’s sad and it’s powerful. Although this performance is 75 minutes, it is engaging throughout, with a multitude of twists and turns to keep the audience on their toes.

Moth is a love letter to everyone’s cruel teen years and it’s a big recommendation from us. It runs until June 3rd at Theatre Works, St Kilda.

Moth
Theatre Works – 14 Acland Street, St Leonards Ave, St Kilda
17 May – 3 June 2023