[Theatre and Physical Theatre/Immersive ~ WORLD PREMIERE ~ SA]
by Adrian Miller.
Matthew Barker is an Adelaide musician and writer who has taken the knowledge gained from working as a carer in the aged care industry using music therapy and has turned that knowledge into an entertaining play about dementia and the foibles and concerns of ageing.
We speak with writer/creator/performer Matthew Barker, and begin by asking what sparked the idea to turn his experiences working in aged care into a play.
“I started writing down little vignettes as prose around five years ago. I was energised by my work and I was coming home from work night after night having had intensely spiritual moments with the residents I work for; people who live with dementia have a profound and unique way of communicating (overtly or inadvertently) truths that I believe are important to our community to hear.
“The people I work for constantly challenge our culture’s attitude and perception of ageing and demolish the limited perception of what we think people living with dementia can achieve,” he says. “Over the past few years I’ve noticed the institutionalisation of aged care workers and clients alike. So I think there is no better time than now to tell stories that challenge and have hope.”
You will be appearing alongside Evie Leonard in this play; what roles do you each play?
“We both act as narrators and between us play over 20 characters including staff members and residents.”
You are perhaps better known as a musician, particularly with the Ukulele Death Squad? But you are also working towards a Major in Music Therapy. Have you witnessed any impact on people with dementia responding to music?
“Music is incredibly important for all humans, but especially for people living with Alzheimer’s, as music stimulates the part of the brain that also contains memory, Matthew says. “Each week I run singing groups where people sing without books and can remember the lyrics to songs fairly well. It is a tool for when clients are overwhelmed and over stimulated. If you’ll allow me to be poetic, music is like an anchor to a boat lost at sea.”
When we ask if there is music in The Fish Bowl, Matthew informs us that there are five songs and only one ukulele. We then ask if working with Director/Producer Stephanie Daughtry helped him to shape the direction of his play.
“Steph is one of the hardest working creative I know,” he says. “She runs Post Dining (with Hannah Rohlach) and they design theatrical experiences around food. I’ve had the pleasure of working with them on many occasions and they work their hardest to bring the best out of the artists they work with and deliver an experience for an audience that you won’t forget in a hurry. I knew working with Steph on The Fish Bowl that she would bring the same level of thought and innovation to the production.”
Do you attempt to highlight problems in the aged care industry, or do you concentrate on a more personal perspective?
“Both!” Matthew says. “Our Aged Care system is broken. With under-trained and underpaid staff who were once energised and inspired becoming disillusioned and jaded.”
You have hinted that there might be a joke or two in this show. Have you met people or been in situations that lend themselves to comic inspiration?
“I am working with people who have lived their lives independently in their own homes and they are transitioning to living in a very new foreign environment. This comes with a lot of loss, pain and confusion” he says.” With carers and nurses working (often for less than someone on check out is paid) in an overly stressed and understaffed environment, while trying to care for the needs of 31 different people, this lends to some tragically comic moments.”
What have you learned about the ageing process by being so closely involved?
“That pain and struggle are important for humans,” Matthew says. “It brings meaning and pride to our lives and taking challenges away from a person or underestimating a person’s abilities can have detrimental consequences. Life is full of adventures – there is a lot of fun to be had.”
Will people of all ages enjoy this show?
“The show has some violence and swearing in it but it should be an enlightening experience for anyone over 14 (if your parents are liberal with bad language).”
What do you hope people will take away from seeing this play?
“I want the audience to leave thinking ‘Is this really how we treat older people in Australia?’ ‘Is this what I want for myself?’ ‘When I speak to someone who has dementia, do I really sound like that?’,” Matthew says. “I also want the audience to see hope in taking a more creative approach to communicating with people who are living with Alzheimer’s.”
The Fish Bowl performs at The Breakout at The Mill, Angas St, from 7.30pm on Tue 22 Feb until Sun 6 Mar, with matinee performance from 3.30pm on Sat 26 Feb.
Book at FringeTIX on 1300 621 255 or adelaidefringe.com.au. Click HERE to purchase your tickets.
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