Reigen

You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll relate. Reigen is a whirlwind of COVID-19 experiences, resonating with at least one person in the audience. 

Presented by Periscope Productions and directed by Jessica Dick, Reigen follows stories of all types of people as they make their way in and out of lockdowns in Australia. With a strong focus on physical intimacy – and the lack thereof – amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, this play was an outstanding feat from conception to execution. 

Created by Benjamin Sheen, he drew inspiration from Arthur Schnitzler’s 1897 body of work Reigen. The original Reigen followed stories of syphilis transferred through sexual experiences in Vienna. At that time, syphilis was an infection prevalent in all social classes without discrimination – similar to that of COVID-19.

This iteration follows intertwined stories with a heavy focus on COVID-19 and intimacy; think the Love Actually of the pandemic. Arthur Schnitzler’s play was written and performed with a similar daisy-chain style. 

Written by nine playwrights in isolation, Reigen was created through a baton-passing technique. This collaborative relay of playwriting was an impressive construction and pays homage to Reigen itself through its comparable pass-through method. Drawing the audience in with every scene, you never know what’s coming next or how it will intertwine with the previous stories. 

Penned beautifully with dialogue that’s almost poetic in its prose, these stories truly touch the heart. The tales follow relatable experiences like getting a puppy to fight the iso-blues or clinging onto a dream that is unobtainable during lockdown. 

With themes of physical intimacy, we see sexual encounters, the love of a friend, the impact of a hug and so much more. Pristine in their execution of every story with each scene being portrayed charmingly, the stellar cast didn’t miss a beat with their dialogue or scene changes.

The show was complemented with a live musical score performed by two musicians. Composed by Joshua Bliss, who created the score to unite each element of the stories, the music added atmosphere to every word of the dialogue. Creating an ambient touch to the overall beauty of the show, the live music showcased just how well-devised the production was. 

As we make our way into the “new normal”, with one chapter of the pandemic behind us, Reigen is an Australian story to reminisce and find comfort in our shared experiences. Reigen was impeccable from start to finish. 

Reigen
Meat Market, 2 Wreckyn Street, North Melbourne, 3051
meatmarket.org.au/event/reigen