After years of development, Aidan Rowlingson's Capricorn finally made its debut at La Boite Theatre's Roundhouse Room last week.
Written and directed by the talented Butchulla and Kabi Kabi artist and co-director Nadine McDonald, Capricorn tells the story of doomed lovers, Sam (Sean Dow) and Ally (Jazleen Latrise), whose fractured relationship unfolds before the audience.
As usual, La Boite definitely delivered again as they continue their focus on bringing marginalised groups to the forefront of Australian theatre.
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Featuring fantastic sound design by Wil Hughes and a wonderfully designed set by Peter Keavy, Capricorn made full use of the space available in such an intimate theatre.
The show kicked off with projections of newscasts which set the scene to give rise to Here Fishy Fishy Fishy, the charismatic and unapologetic Goldfish played by Kerri Llewy-Allen.
The audience was treated to the duality of living together with someone you love - or don't, rather.
Here Fishy Fishy Fishy provides Sam and Ally with relationship advice, almost acting as their sub-conscious, encouraging them to be open and honest with each other.
The idea of a reverse-fish-bowl effect was a great addition to the show as it made the audience almost feel like a fly-on-the-wall or goldfish-in-a-bowl as turmoil struck the two lovers.
The brutal honesty on display was eye-opening and insightful, though each heated moment was met with moments of silence, sadness and hysterical laughter.
As the lovers delved into other opportunities and enjoy their times being separate, it allowed them to consistently build on whatever remains of their relationship - always picking up right where they left off.
Notably, Sam told Ally the reason he is so upfront is "because you're my best friend."
That line certainly resonated with the audience, being such a common disposition among people intertwined.
Capricorn is a hilariously sad, angry, triggering and eye opening experience shared through the lens of the writers' real-world experiences.
"For me, it's about you - the audience. Bringing your own agendas and all of your baggage and pushing it into this play and the characters," Mr Rowlingson said after the premiere showing.
"We all have baggage. Otherwise we'd have no character and be boring.
"Writing this play was definitley a process of putting that baggage on the table and looking at it from different angles. And I hope that's what this work offers.
As Indigenous theatre artists continue their dominance in the theatre world, these budding young stars are definitely people to keep an eye out for.
