In The Wreck by Buzzcut productions, we follow a simple tale of two siblings disagreeing over the future of the family business and the life choices they have each made. They go diving together and discover a shipwreck under the waves.
There is much to see behind the gauze screen that hangs just in front of the audience. Puppets, sets, cameras, actors, a camera operator, and a musician all work together meticulously to deliver a piece of live cinema that is fully theatrical in its creation. Everything is projected onto the screen, including captions, whilst the choreography of making it is also clear to see.
Through a combination of different model boxes for the puppets, back drops for the actors, and various camera setups, we are taken through a range of locations: nightclub, shipwreck, and beach front. Every inch of the stage space is being utilised to allow the company to play with scale, jump quickly between locations, and combine naturalistic performances with moments of the absurd in the sea.
The underwater sections are beautifully shown through the live capture of intricate puppet divers cut with close ups of the actors’ hands to show their communication. These visits are repeated, and in a couple of places, they need a bit more action to keep pushing the story forward and change up the pace. Towards the end, they are joined by a crab and a whale who give the siblings the nudge they need, providing some gentle humour and a twist to the style of storytelling. The accompanying live score is responsive to the action and carries us from place to place through the creation of contrasting atmospheres.
Seeing the mechanics of the film through the screen is fascinating and allows the audience to engage with the magic that happens behind the scenes. The company work seamlessly as an ensemble, moving through their tracks with ease, to deliver a very enjoyable hour of gentle, intricate, and inventive multi-media performance.
Four Stars
Review by Megan Purdie. @seenbypurdie
Theatre, Art and Film Reviews 
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