Content warnings: coarse language, partial nudity, violence, adult themes and sexual references, the use of haze and strobe effects.
The Farm flips the script on what a dance theatre work can be with their new production. Stunt Double is packed with action, humour, and unexpected turns as it celebrates the unsung heroes of the Australian film industry.
Set in the 1970s, Stunt Double takes place primarily on the set of fictional Ozploitation film Don’t Wake the Dark. A narrator set the scene for the audience, introducing the characters and time period; in the 1970s, Australia was seeking to establish a national identity in film, and blockbusters like Mad Max, Picnic At Hanging Rock, My Brilliant Career, and Wake In Fright were being produced. Egos are inflated, tension is high, and there are no safety procedures in place for the stunt doubles who put their bodies in harm’s way while the actors reap the rewards (and awards) of fame.
Stunt Double was scripted by Gavin Webber, with dramaturgy by Sanja Simic, and Marco Sinigaglia and Carly Rees as stunt consultants. Produced by Performing Lines in association with Screen Queensland, Stunt Double made its world premiere at Darwin Festival in August before a limited season at the Brisbane Powerhouse in September as part of Brisbane Festival.
Pat (Gavin Webber) is an action hero past his prime, and his Don’t Wake The Dark co-star Maureen (Kate Harman) is a rising star. The film’s director (Grayson Millwood) is focused on his artistic vision for the film, and nothing will stand in his way. As the scenes are shot over and over, with adjustments from the director and interruptions from Pat, it is the stunt doubles who perform the dangerous falls, flips, and fights, but Pat and Maureen who receive the accolades and admiration.
As the piece progressed, Stunt Double descended further into metatheatrics and surrealism, blurring the lines between real and reel. Stunt Double also immersed a number of audience members in the work as extras, clappers, gaffers, and more, allowing them to experience the show from within and contributing to key moments of comedy and conflict in the show.
The hierarchies and power dynamics of the set became increasingly clear, as Maureen tolerated misogyny from her co-star and director only to struggle for the upper hand with her stunt double (Essie Horn), who was filled with energy and ideas but constantly overshadowed. Pat aging out of action films was contrasted against the stunt doubles, whose bodies were on the line and whose livelihood depended on them not being injured or otherwise incapacitated.
Fight choreography was brilliantly executed, and Harman and Horn also performed a number of highly physical duets of more conventional contemporary dance choreography, mirroring and balancing one another in every sense. In one scene, they wove between moving set pieces and, in the low light, it really did become difficult to tell who was who.
The stunt-packed theatrical scenes were intercut by short movement sequences such as these, which moderated the pace of the work. Stunt Double also used video to expand its characters and their relationships with one another, with film consultation by Mick Angus and Mark Wareham. There were several transitions where a pull up screen was brought out, and a series of interviews were shown – first, an interview with the director and two stars, and later a series of snippets from the cast and crew in a “where are they now?”-style retrospective about Don’t Wake the Dark.
Set and costume design by Tyler Hill Sound, with scenography by Zoe Atkinson, conjured interior and exterior sets for the action movie with a series of spinning set pieces and some wonderfully B-grade horror props. The performers also used the stairs of the Powerhouse Theatre as part of the staging, and two dramatic kabuki drops of the curtain in the final scenes really drove home the play’s message about who is allocated value in the hierarchy of filmmaking, and who does (or does not) get to enjoy the spoils of its success.
Sound design and composition by Luke Smiles was fundamental to Stunt Double, from the high energy soundtrack to the crucial sounds of impact as the stunts were performed. Lighting design by Chloe Ogilvie was also integral to the visuals of the performance, setting the emotion of each scene, on and off camera, and creating the illusion of movement and changing speed in the car chase (a highlight!).
Stunt Double was a highly entertaining and unexpected new work, celebrating the unsung heroes of Australia’s action films and exploring the power dynamics at play beneath the movie magic. It also expanded the idea of what a dance theatre work can be, collaboratively constructed across many mediums to create a cohesive and extraordinary whole.
Stunt Double was performed at the Powerhouse Theatre, Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm, from 6 – 9 September 2023
Click here for more information about The Farm, including their upcoming productions
Backstreet Brisbane 
Leave a comment