DISTRACTION CAMP
Premiered at the University Theatre, November 2009
Toured to BATS Theatre, Wellington Sept 2010
Production Credits

Picture
Image: Tjalling De Vries
beautifully elegant... mesmerizing... disarming..."
Lynn Freeman, Capital Times

As the audience walk in, the performance has already begun. They are welcomed into a House of Illusions: the live music from a twin pianist and cellist is in full swing and the actors dance together on a small dance floor, centre of the stage. The performance (and the audience) are reflected back by large mirrors, and also on monitors, which show previously captured images from the town outside intercut with a live video feed from a roaming camera operator inside. The House of Illusion allows a potential for freedom from the outside world, but it is also constantly under surveillance. Between tango dances and songs, the actors move to small dressing areas at the edge of the stage, and prepare for a series of performances, given for the audience and for each other: A bishop hears the Confession of a young penitent, and gives absolution and penance. As the scene reaches its climax, it is interrupted: the Bishop is not a Bishop, but a client in a brothel; A judge hears the testimony of a thief, who is consequently punished severely by an ominous masked figure; A camp commandant trains his "horse" - a young woman who must be disciplined and properly put through her paces; A woman sings soulfully in remembrance of times past; The thief sings for the camp commandant, and in reward is given the head of her torturer in a box. Throughout actors reflect on what is going on inside and outside the theatre, addressing the audience, blurring the lines between actor, character and spectator. The play ends as actors invite audience members to join them on the dance floor.

Reviews


Free form freak-out
Faith Oxenbridge, Listener

Then what is freedom?
Whetu Fala, Theatreview, Christchurch

Play hard work, but worth the effort
Alan Scott, The Press

Driven to distraction
Lynn Freeman, Capital Times

No escape as reality and illusion unite
Laurie Atkinson, Dominion Post

The puzzlement and pain of paradox
John Smythe, Theatreview, Wellington

Distraction Camp
Uther Dean, Salient

Interviews and Articles

Interview with the cast at BATS Theatre, Wellington
TV3's Nightline

Lynn Freeman comes to a rehearsal
RadioNZ's Arts On Sunday

Eva Radich interviews Emma Johnston and Peter Falkenberg RadioNZ's Upbeat

Preview
Christchurch Press

Camp Concentration
DominionPost

Tango, BDSM and the SS
SCOOP

Director's Note
Peter Falkenberg
the_theatre_as_counterpublic-_from_the_balcony_to_distraction_camp.pdf
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File Type: pdf
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press_kit_dc__bats3.pdf
File Size: 5579 kb
File Type: pdf
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E-flyer for Distraction Camp in Wellington - front / back