Quiet Faith, a new Australian work by award-winning documentary theatre maker David Williams, explores what it means to be a Christian in contemporary Australian society.
It could be subtitled “Confessions of a Christian”, based as it is on the personal stories of individuals.
This is theatre as conversation – excerpts from interviews woven together to give both personal and composite stories. As one of the characters says, it’s about “the faith stuff”; it’s also about how we reconcile the personal and the political.
The many characters are played by just two actors: writer and director David Williams and his collaborator Ashton Malcolm. I would have welcomed more actors, to give a different voice and energy to the multiple stories, but this is a personal preference rather than a criticism.
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The play is staged in a simple but effective theatre-in-the-round format with the audience seated on attractive but spartan wooden benches (a BYO cushion might be handy). And think twice before sitting next to a candle – you might find the intimacy of the performance a little daunting!
Clever lighting and a subtle soundscape add to the mood, already heightened by the wonderful old Waterside Workers’ space.
Quiet Faith offers a contemplative 70 minutes of theatre that will give you something to think about on the drive home. Recommended.
Vitalstatistix is presenting Quiet Faith atWaterside, 11 Nile Street, Port Adelaide, until October 19.