4 Stars

Words: Caitlin Todd
Image: Sasha Krohn

A piece exploring mental health through dance and physical theatre, The Weight of Shadow is a unique, one-actor performance. Throughout this piece, we follow our character and their day-to-day journey, with creative ways to explore how much our minds can negatively affect us.

With clever use of set, we observe the character struggling to get out of bed and what seems like the difficult decision of what to wear due to the insecurity of looks and how the character might be judged by others, imagining what it would be like to confidently leave the house and interact with others without feeling scared or insecure about their appearance.

Shown through an incredible use of body language, physicality and facial expressions making it clear to the audience the character’s struggles within the performance, there is quite an interesting way to show how our body reacts to situations we are not comfortable with. And the beautiful use of aerial tricks within the character’s nightmares and sleep struggles, giving the interpretation that their mental health has a hold on them.

The play ends by repeating the beginning sequence with a positive spin, leaving us with the idea that although there are bad days, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Things can get better. An incredible and a unique way to explore mental health through physical theatre and dance.

The Weight of Shadow
Assembly Checkpoint
12:15
Aug 1-25