Back to Back Theatre is back with Small Metal Objects

FOR the first time since 2010, Back To Back Theatre company is performing within the region, bringing an immersive theatre homecoming performance to the city.

From April 27 to 30, the International Ibsen Award winning theatre company will present Small Metal Objects at Market Square, pairing people watching with an urban thriller.

The performance, driven by an ensemble of actors with intellectual disabilities, will unfold amidst the unpredictable pedestrian traffic of Market Square Shopping Centre.

Geelong Arts Centre head of programming Penny McCabe said the arts centre was honoured to host the highly-esteemed theatre company’s homecoming performance.

“Geelong Arts Centre feels incredibly privileged to be hosting the prestigious Back to Back Theatre company in their highly anticipated return to live performances within the Australian Theatre landscape,” she said.

The Geelong-based company Back-to-Back Theatre is considered one of Australia’s most important cultural exports, recognised in 2022 with the prestigious Ibsen Award, often referred to as “the Nobel Prize of theatre”.

Tim Stitz, executive producer and co-chief executive officer of Back to Back Theatre said they were thrilled to be bringing Small Metal Objects back to their hometown.

“Since its first outing in 2005 the work has travelled around the country and the world.

“Now with the piece being on the Victorian Year 12 syllabus, we are so happy to be collaborating with our neighbour, and presenting partner Geelong Arts Centre, and Market Square, to stage this work in Geelong once more.

“We hope the work finds a new generation of audiences from our community and the greater Geelong region.”

As a trailblazer in contemporary world theatre, Back To Back Theatre is powered by a troupe of actors on a mission to champion diversity and challenge societal norms with a neuro-diverse troupe of actors.

“We love to see Geelong’s immensely talented community of local artists thrive off-shore and on home soil and will continue to support and celebrate their impactful work for a long time to come,” Mr Stitz said.

The performance will be a part of Geelong Arts Centre’s ‘Our Season 2023’, and part of Back To Back Theatre’s larger body of work questioning the assumptions of what is possible in the world of theatre.

Blending street performance with podcasting techniques, the audience will listen to the show with headphones from a raised seating bank, as the intensely personal drama is played out somewhere in the crowd.

The 50-minute show will run from April 27-30 with tickets available online at geelongartscentre.org.au/whats-on/all-events/small-metal-objects/