Voices Of A Siren: Stories Told Within Beautifully Evocative Dance ~ Adelaide Fringe 2023 Review

THEATRE AND PHYSICAL THEATRE/Solo Show ~ AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE ~ Hong Kong] Ngunyawayiti Theatre at Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute, Thu 9 Mar, 2023. A beach is that passage place between land and sea, an evocative space to begin this awakening and to set off on a new journey. Just as her mother left mainland China and went in search of other possibilities, the daughter embarks on a personal transformation. She will leave behind old practices, like foot-binding for females in her family line, and the high heels that are the modern equivalent. Like the fairy tale, the bright red shoes also symbolise a lifetime of servitude, dancing to the tune of a patriarch’s power. Celebrating the freedom of her feet leads naturally to a joyful theatrical dance form, fully expressive of the unfolding story. However, like tea made with the real leaf, her motion is infused with meaning. Deciding to dance to a different drum is not just about generational change, rebelliousness that soon returns to conformity. If a few outliers did emerge, they were, by definition, the exceptions. Until now. What we are witnessing is much more, a seismic shift, a complete break from centuries of strict structure. This is creating not just a new wave of feminism, but a tsunami. In Asian society there is not only a glass ceiling for women; it is likened to being in a fishbowl, where the invisible walls are all around you. Shattering this means that you first must become aware of its existence. The fantasy of fixed roles in society is so pervasive, it is hard to swim against the current, and she unconsciously slips back into the bowl over and over again while looking for a way to escape. This concept of the individual having their own rights and listening to their own inner voice is totally counter-intuitive when contrasted with the Asian acceptance of the common good always coming first. Haunting harmonies evoke ethereal landscapes, accompanied by live music with a wide variety of instruments. The transition from traditional societal roles to female/individual independence is exciting and exhilarating. But the pressures of the past are still very much present. Perhaps the only way out of the fishbowl is a leap of faith from one element into another, like a flying fish first finding its flock, then leaving the water. But instead of falling back, this time it goes on, on and up into the unknown. 4 stars David Cronin Voices Of A Siren continues at Ngunyawayiti Theatre at Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute, at various times, until Mon 13 Mar. Book at FringeTIX and adelaidefringe.com.au. Click HERE to purchase your tickets. #Clothesline_Mag #ADLfringe