PRAISE

‘Extraordinary. Seamless. Powerful.’ ~ award-winning Arrernte visual artist and poet Jenni Kemarre Martiniello OAM

‘The Story of the Oars is an eerie, atmospheric tragedy that will keep you thinking long after you leave the theatre. The production was a thing of great beauty’ ~ Cathy Bannister, Stage Whispers

‘The Street Theatre has once again upheld its fine reputation of producing new work of the highest professional standard. Featherstone’s writing is original and unique. His command of the lyrical nature of his prose combines the beauty of language with the imagination to conceive a fascinating and engaging narrative. His characters are real, their situation unusual and the levels of their interaction deceptively complex. Director Shelly Higgs and composer Jay Cameron maintain the suspense as the outstanding cast creates totally believable and convincing portrayals of four characters caught up in the search for the truth. The Story of the Oars demands attention, engagement of the intellect and freedom of the emotion. In a world that pays too little heed to the truth, it is a warning of the damage of consequence for those who would conceal the truth, whether that be for personal, political, economic or social gain’ ~ Peter Wilkins, Canberra Critics Circle

‘An incredible tour de force’ ~ Archibald Prize-shortlisted visual artist Margarita Georgiadis and eminent Australian actor Max Cullen

‘[The Story of the Oars] shifts smoothly back and forth between natural dialogue, with its humour and recognisability, and poetic soliloquies, with their strong rhythms. This is powerful, not only because the shifts between the two “forms” create breaks in intensity, but also because the natural dialogue conveys the main narrative thread, while the poetic pieces embody more of the emotional and thematic power. The language is beautiful, and it’s accessible, which frees the audience’ ~ Whispering Gums

‘An immersive art experience crossed with rich and dense poetry crossed with beautiful narrative crossed with Australian gothic. Go see it!’ ~ Jen Webb, poet, critic, and Distinguished Professor Emerita of Creative Practice, University of Canberra

PRAISE

‘The Weight of Light is a gem of a piece, combining the performance rhythms of a song cycle with the force of theatre. Much of its power comes from the delicate way the combination of Nigel Featherstone’s spare text and James Humberstone’s dark and carefully mournful music touches on issues of masculinity and trauma. Michael Lampard finds even the smallest scrap of light and uses it to the advantage of the performance. The Weight of Light will certainly have a life beyond the two Canberra performances’ ~ Canberra Times 

‘Spellbinding, spine-tingling, heartbreaking and gloriously uplifting. Extraordinary performances by operatic baritone Michael Lampard and pianist Alan Hicks. This was a stunningly moving, beautiful, haunting and inventive production from the very first breath to the last’ ~ award-winning poet Anne Casey

‘The Weight of Light is a richly crafted production with universal themes of grief, despair, hope and fear’ ~ Australian Stage

‘An enthralling visual and aural experience’ ~ Australian Arts Review

‘Seamless, exquisite, mesmeric poetry of text, music, drama and the conversation of light and shadow on a spare, evocative set that had me ‘falling / in my (own) chest / my guts / my legs / my head’, but then carried me as I fell, lifted me until I became the weight of light’ ~ award-winning poet, performer and novelist Merlinda Bobis

‘The Weight of Light fearlessly takes on some big issues. Featherstone’s libretto impressively balances narrative and contemplation’ - ArtsHub

‘A beautiful show. The whole package – words, music, performance, set and lighting. Highly moving’ ~ Whispering Gums

‘A truly stunning piece of work. Bravo’ ~ Sydney Voice Project

‘Composer James Humberstone, librettist Nigel Featherstone, director Caroline Stacey, baritone Michael Lampard and pianist Alan Hicks have put together a dark and spellbinding tale of a soldier who has returned from his latest tour of Afghanistan. As they move through the songs, a sense of a person lost and wondering emanates through the music, the lyrics, and the strongly effective staging and lighting, all in a well thought-out story that is touching and dramatic in every aspect. What this song cycle shows is that if there is anything good to come out of war, it is the beauty of creations such as The Weight of Light’ ~ Canberra City News

‘Daringly avant-garde. Intrigue throughout’ ~ Yolk