It was seven years ago when I saw Kids Killing Kids but I remember it
so vividly. The show reflected on a previous collaboration between four
Australian theatre makers (David Finnigan, Georgie McAuley, Jordan Prosser and
Sam Burns-Warr) and a Filipino theatre group, Sipat Lawin Ensemble, on their
season of Battalia Royale. This was based on Japanese writer Koushun
Takami's novel Battle Royale, in which high school students are pitted
against each other in ways that would give the tributes in The Hunger Games nightmares.
It proved to be extremely popular with thousands of people eagerly flocking to
see it but also extremely controversial with its immersive depiction of violence. Fast forward to 2020 and the
ensemble has brought its newest show to Melbourne, Are You Ready To Take The Law
Into Your Own Hands.
This time round the controversy surrounds the kidnapping of the biggest star of the Philippines, and
it is up to three women to rescue her: Selina (Ji-ann Lachica) a social media
influencer, her older sister Sanya (Claudia Enriquez) and police officer Sophia
(Adrienne Vergara). There is action aplenty as they face-off in rap
battles, dance challenges, underwater fighting and encounter corruption at
every corner in order to free Gracielle V. Their personalities and circumstances might be outlandish but committed performances by the actors
allow for honest and authentic characterisations to develop.
