Night Night review | The Last Great Hunt | Monash University

Perth-based theatre company The Last Great Hunt returned to Melbourne with Night Night, a visually arresting, emotionally resonant piece that speaks volumes without uttering a single word. It is another example of the stunning innovation they bring to their work; in this instance, as we are transported to the vast isolation of Antarctica and probe the depths of human curiosity and connection. A bold, imaginative, and quietly profound story, it further cements The Last Great Hunt as one of Australia’s most inventive and affecting contemporary performing arts makers.

Co-created and directed by Arielle Gray, Luke Kerridge, and Tim Watts, the show stars Gray as Pip, an Antarctic scientist on a quest to uncover the origins of life. Her path takes a surreal turn when she encounters a lone albino penguin, leading to the discovery of a mysterious glowing entity, played brilliantly by Watts' hands. (Yes, his hands).

Lé Nør [the rain] review | Monash University

In the island nation of Sólset live a small group of people that has been experiencing a decade-long drought. However, that's not enough to dampen their spirits, particularly the residents of an apartment building, with each of them dealing with their own day-to-day problems of heartbreak, love, friendship and loneliness. But it is only a matter of time before the inevitable occurs and disaster strikes in this original climate change story conceived by Perth theatre company, The Last Great Hunt, Lé Nør [the rain].

This is a wonderful story full of suspense, drama and humour, and the cast take to it with such skill and commitment (with many playing multiple characters) that you easily form strong emotional connections to what is happening to the residents. To make it even more challenging for the ensemble (Gita Bezard, Adriane Daff, Jeffrey Jay Fowler, Arielle Gray, Chris Isaacs, Jo Morris and Tim Watts), the entire dialogue is spoken in the fictitious native Sólset language, with English surtitles displayed to the audience. And this is just the tip of the iceberg about what makes Lé Nør [the rain] an exciting piece of work.

FAG/STAG & Minnie and Mona Play Dead presented by The Last Great Hunt - Melbourne Fringe Festival preview

I saw a play called Hope Is The Saddest during the Melbourne Comedy Festival in 2013 and thought the entire production was brilliant. So I was thrilled to see the writer behind it, Jeffrey Jay Fowler, is coming to Melbourne Fringe with two shows being presented by Perth based theatre company, The LastGreat Hunt: FAG/STAG and Minnie and Mona Play Dead.

"With Hope is the Saddest we were exploring loneliness specifically, and lack of connection or understanding between people. FAG/STAG however, came from an interest (co-creator) Chris Isaacs and I had in what makes a friendship between straight and gay men different to other friendships," Fowler explains. "It explores how people of different sexualities can benefit from one another's company. I find my friendships with straight men much less tricky than my friendships with gay men."