RISK World Premiere production

Umber's world premiere production of RISK by Elaine Acworth took place at the Sue Benner Theatre, Metro Arts between 29 October and 15 November 2008 as part of Metro's 2008 Independents' season.

RISK poster

Production team

Co-Directors: Elaine Acworth and Fraser Corfield
Designer: Greg Clarke
Lighting Designer: Chris Tollefson
Sculptor: Krista Berga
Sound Designer: Peter Nelson
Fight Director: Nigel Poulton
Assistant Director: Dave Burton
Featuring: Sam Clark, Peter Cossar, Gavin Ingham, Jess Loudon and Kathryn Marquet
Producers: Nicholas O'Donnell and Elaine Acworth
Stage Manager: Staycee Johns
Lighting Operator: Shaun Kohlman
Crew: Michelle Zahner

Reviews

Plantation Thriller - ourbrisbane.com - Katherine Lyall-Watson

"Risk is a new Australian play by award-winning playwright Elaine Acworth. It tells the story of Quin, a young man running from a dark secret. Quin arrives on stage with Bex, a girl he picked up in the pub. They've come to the pine plantations for a quickie before he heads up the coast to a new life and Bex goes down south to audition for So You Think You Can Dance. But nothing is as simple as it appears and both Bex and Quin are keeping secrets – dangerous secrets.

As the sun sets in the forest, Quin's lift arrives – two ex-cons on parole, just released and looking for mischief. They have secrets too and hidden agendas and, once a body is uncovered, it's clear that not everyone will be leaving. Acworth has a penchant for psychological thrillers and she's written a cracking paced, action drama to suit the genre. What's surprising is the intense poetry and lyrical beauty of her text.

...a gut-wrenching, rip roaring thriller... Risk has been co-directed by Acworth and Fraser Corfield. They've assembled a fabulous, predominantly young cast who give the show their all...Running at about 70 frantic minutes, it's a fast-paced corker of a show." more

RISK - Rave Magazine - Seanna Van Helten

"...This is a tightly-wound on-act plot, unravelled in real time with brutish force and nervous energy. The youthful cast members have carefully crafted their characters: Marquet as a vulnerable yet resilient girl out of her depth, Loudon as her brash older cousin (a commanding character for whom you craved more stage time), Cossar's tatooed bully and Ingham's fast-talking wildcard Benny.... (and Sam Clark's)...secretive Quin, the sole character whose private thoughts are shared with the audience... (and whose) backstory is revealed (as he) runs from a dark past...

The plot is taut and Acworth's dialogue is enriched with...a poet's flair for metaphor ... ... the threatening atmosphere is compunded by Greg Clarke's excellent set design... Lighting by Chris Tollefson create(s) ominous shadows and shifting perspectives...

Risk is an interesting, accomplished and unsettling psychological thriller..."

RISK - Absolute Theatre - Kellie Scott

"RISK is one of the best productions I have seen this year. It is a thrilling drama set in the pine forests north of Brisbane, with energy that left me zinging all night... The energy on stage was fervent, and you could feel the tension in the audience as we bit our nails and moved to the edge of our seats. The physical theatre was demanding, and I applaud the group for keeping up with each other throughout the entire show. The cast didn't miss a beat. Each character had a story, and every actor did his or hers justice". more