Apokalypsis

While planet Earth increasingly feels the effects of climate change, it seems inevitable that one day we’ll experience doomsday events from not doing enough while we still had the chance. Such is the catastrophe depicted in Apokalypsis. This intense production takes 100 historical disasters and weaves them together with an apocalyptic event set in the not so distant future, creating a chilling look at how a group of four housemates react when faced with total annihilation.

Performers and co-creators Charles Purcell, Kai Bradley, Marcus McKenzie and Rosie Clynes, along with sound designer and co-creator Zak Pidd, have constructed a show that brings decimation due to climate change out of the long-term future and into modern day reality. They highlight events that have pushed us past the tipping point and towards a possible mass extinction.

Text fragments popping up on a screen to show the timeline of events, clever use of dialogue that’s either directly or indirectly related to the disasters, along with strobe lighting and intense sounds build the suspense until the show’s climax, leaving you on the edge of your seat for the full 60 minutes. The conversations and interactions between the characters develop from frivolous and funny snapshots into tense discussions laced with denial.

The creators manage to make these devastating events both horrifying and, at times, humorous. It is uncomfortable, the music really is very loud and distorted, and the end sequence is a bit too long. But overall it’s a really bold and absorbing production. The acting is compelling and the script writing is strong. The venue, The Substation, is a huge industrial building that was originally used to convert electricity for the railways; an apt venue for such subject matter.

Apokalypsis, commissioned and developed through Next Wave’s flagship learning program Kickstart Helix, is a scary portrayal of both history and future. This frightening vision is like a bad dream, but Apokalypsis illustrates that such a catastrophe could one day be a reality.

Apokalypsis
Next Wave Festival 2018
nextwave.org.au/events/apokalypsis