Dredge:

To bring something unwelcome and forgot or obscure to people’s attention (Oxford Dictionary)

To remove something unwanted (like mud) from the bottom of a body of water (Cambridge Dictionary)

Dredge begins with seven amoeba like creatures pulsating around a well filled with fresh water. The bodies are diverse, but the costumes identical. It is quite a beautiful depiction of curiosity and discovery, initially.

As the show progresses, the well and the actors become muddied – corrupted – and what emerges is brutality, pain, violence, and exhaustion, to the point where the dancers frantic movement begins to destroy the very stage on which they perform – tearing at the curtains in desperation.

What is reflected through movement, water and mud, is the destruction of nature, gender roles, patriarchal systems, and escalating consumerism to the point where we not only consume the planet, but each other, and ultimately ourselves.

How did we get here? Where do we think we are going? And can we be redeemed?

My very smart friend who accompanied me very succinctly described the show as a depiction of the story from Genesis – the creation and fall of man.

What really stood out in this innovative physical theatre piece was the energy, physicality, and body confidence of the actors, who were bold in projecting the emotions the piece demanded of them.  

Dredge is an engaging, energetic and mesmerising piece of experimental physical theatre. Developed and directed by Brandon Armstrong, Dredge is a creation of Femmural Productions with support from The Anchor Theatre Company.

Dredge is showing at Theatre Works in St Kilda until 28^th September, tickets can be purchase online.