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Wry, playful, philosophical and poignant, Bron Batten’s Waterloo combines biographical storytelling and existential, somewhat cynical musings on life and meaning with witty, engrossing performance art.
Bron Batten considers love, war and one’s own echo chamber in an interrogation of her affair, as a “lefty, Greens-voting, almost-vegan theatre artist,” with a “right-wing, cigar-smoking Margaret Thatcher-loving Tory conservative military official.” In doing so, she explores the constant war between the human desire to protect oneself from pain and fascination with destruction in all its forms, inviting us to examine their own ideological beliefs and where they come from.
I feel like Batten set herself free in this production to go as far as she could with her humour and storytelling as well as her onstage antics, and that’s why it works. A remote-control tank with a balloon attached to it; paintball videos starring Batten and director Gary Abrahams; moments of quiet and others of simply pacing around the stage, talking through her anxious and self-critical thoughts all play their role in creating this unique, quite special show.
It’s her willingness to take both to the extreme, jumping from probing questions on how society percieves the military and adultery to balloon drops and ping pong balls, that compels you to lower your guard and open your mind to Batten’s story. She literally gets inside a giant balloon at one point and muses on the concept that each of us needs to proactively leave our own vacuum chamber of thoughts and opinions, but to also make sure to protect our own wellbeing – and frankly how dare she make me feel those things while witnessing this whimsy? But also it really resonated?
Batten’s ability to engage her audience is integral to pulling off the show, and I was lucky enough to experience her particular style of audience interaction firsthand. Although at one point she appeared to be stabbing me, she creates a safe space for it by ensuring that you’re in on the joke. Batten is laughing with you, rather than at you.
Zany and reflective in equal parts, Waterloo definitely won the war. I can’t wait to see what Batten does next – whatever it is, I’m buying a ticket.
Something New | Wine Pairing
Rather than recommend a specific varietal, I think what Waterloo pairs best with is you challenging your taste buds a little bit and trying something different to the usual varietals you see in the bottle-o. You never know, it might just broaden your palate.
My Pick: Alpha Box & Dice 2021 Dead Winemakers Society Dolcetto, McLaren Vale, SA
Dolcetto is a bit of a work of contradictions. The word Dolcetto means ‘sweet little one,’ but the grape is used to make dry red wines, rather than sweet ones. And, while it’s usually used to produce a fairly simple, fruit forward red, Alpha Box & Dice has wild fermented the grape and let malolactic fermentation occur as well, upping the complexity and taste value through increased texture, spice and acidity. Try it if you’re a fan of lighter reds like Pinot Noir, Barbera and Grenache.
Waterloo, Bondi Festival | Tasting Notes
| Aussie Season | 6 to 9 July, Bondi Pavilion, Bondi Festival |
| Ticket $ | $32-36 |
| Writer | Bron Batten |
| Director | Gary Abrahams |
| Theatre Type & Genre | Comedy, Performance Art |
| See it if you like | Loony comedy, philosophical questions |
| Wine Pairing | Something New |
| Criteria for Wine Pairing | Something that challenges your tase buds a little bit |
Toasting Aussie Theatre 