Words: Chloe Shimmin

Two actors. A dark stage, set with an oversized see-saw wide enough to stand and walk on. It’s Year 10. Mark is the new boy in school, struggling to make friends. Darren is a bully, disturbed, a reckless tornado that crashes into Mark’s life and ultimately changes it forever. They both need each other but for very different reasons. Mark begins “this is my story.” 

BACON is a phenomenal microscope into a relationship between two school boys both struggling with adolescence, adversity and sexuality. Power shifts are viscerally depicted as the actors walk across the see-saw, rising and falling at vital moments in the play. 

Sophie Swithinbank’s play is intricately crafted with heart and humour. We all know the archetypal bully in our school, understand the ‘common’ area where we go to meet up after school but nothing about this play is generic: Swithinbank has nurtured living breathing characters existing in their world. Through BACON we look back on our own experiences and recognise the impacts of that vulnerable and formative time of life. 

The Cairns Lecture Theatre feels too small for these exceptional performances from Corey Montague-Sholay and William Robinson. Their excellent vocal ability, trust and moving performances transport you far from the full 100 seater hall as if they were playing to a much bigger crowds. BACON has a long and fruitful life ahead.

This is the play to watch this August.

BACON
Summerhall, Cairns Lecture Theatre
15.30
7-13, 15-20, 22-27 Aug