Welcome To Your New Life – State Theatre Company Review

[Theatre AUS; World Premiere] The Space Theatre, Festival Centre, Sat 18 Nov It’s a challenge to take a basic human ritual, turn it into a work of art, and offer new perspectives on that ritual. Welcome to Your New Life is only partly successful in that quest. The show is divided into two quite separate parts - the pregnancy and birth, and a life after the birth. Part one generates laughs about the quackery around the birthing procedure from both the traditional and alternative ends of the spectrum. (Have you done your birthing plan yet?) According to some pain is just a social construct! After a rather bizarre episode of irrational fear about a compostable toilet the second half eventually aims for a little more depth. It neatly juxtaposes the terminal illness of an aging relative with the growth of the newborn infant. Reality hits hard and in an attempt to take pressure off their struggling relationship Anna and partner try and come to some resolution about how to manage their collective sleep deprivation. New Mum Anna realises that part of her will never sleep again - reinforced by quite a lovely song that acknowledges that part of a new parent’s existence now and forever is to keep their child alive. Alan John’s original songs sit firmly in the musical genre, and together with live piano add variety and a welcome reflective tone. Erin James is quite engaging as the new mother, and is ably supported by Matt Crook and Kathryn Adams in multiple various roles. Anna Goldsworthy’s play is a warm and entertaining piece with a liberal dose of humour that could well deter young women from ever going through childbirth. Or not! 3.5 stars Michael Coghlan Welcome To Your New Life continues at The Space Theatre at various times until Sat 25 Nov. Click HERE to purchase tickets.