Saturday, 8 November 2025

bystander review | Brunswick Mechanics Institute

In a world that is more divided than ever, bystander by Melbourne Playback Theatre Company is a reminder of what happens when we stop scrolling, sit together and listen. Blending community storytelling with improvised theatre, audience members are warmly invited to offer their own experiences - raw, funny, uncomfortable or heartfelt - and watch them transformed into spontaneous performance.

The evening begins with our host Ian David asking what the word bystander means to us. We sit with it and reflect. From the ensuing discussion, the five performers (Josiah Lulham, Paolo Bartolomei, Danny Diesendorf, Diana Nguyen, and Phoebe Mason) present a series of short, stand-alone dramatisations inspired by their responses. And while the show certainly has its humorous moments, this improv isn’t primarily about laughs - it’s about sharing and building connection and unity.