Voices

Based on true stories, Voices is frequently challenging, but these confronting stories are delivered with humour – which provokes laughter as often as it brings the audience to the verge of tears.

The ensemble cast provides a powerful portrayal of different types of mental illness. Each character is rendered multi-dimensional as tales of their families, jobs and dreams are woven in. A snapshot view of their inner thoughts is manifested through a smart use of audiovisual elements, which not only overcomes the spatial limitations of the stage, but also gives an added level of depth to the characters.

Producer Eugene Wong feels that the play is not about mental illness, but about people who have a mental illness. This is the strongest point of the performance. Audiences are drawn in to empathise with the characters and see them as people with struggles that are relatable to our own lives.

Originally performed in 2009 by Scotch College students, who spent time at Carrical Rooming House with the men whose lives inspired this play, Voices has been evolved and directed by Amy Dwight.

Sometimes it’s hard to connect the stories that you are seeing played out in front of you as reality. They seem fairly generic, but this is not necessarily a bad thing; it makes it easier to sympathise with the characters. But it does mean that the depiction is a little safe and Dwight could have pushed the boundaries more than she did.

Dwight and Wong encourage the audience to delve further into the development of the play by leading them into the theatre through the backstage area, where they can view photos of Carrical Rooming House and the real men who live there.

The Candlelight production of Voices is an insightful piece of theatre that is not only artistically pleasing, but inspires us to challenge our own views and misconceptions.