Synchronicity ready for “edgy” show

BENDIGO audiences will be treated to a night of thrilling theatre at Synchronicity Performing Arts’ upcoming production of Speaking in Tongues.

Written by Australian playwright Andrew Bovell whose credits include co-writing the 1992 film Strictly Ballroom, director Wendy Collishaw said Speaking in Tongues slowly reveals a murder mystery through the stories of cheating couples.

“Our crew really pushed to do something a little bit different and a bit more edgy and this is it,” she said.

“It’s the writing style, it’s the drama, it’s the approach to how Bovell writes this and presents the drama that is so unique and so edgy.

“There’s a murder that happens in the play and it’s a gradual reveal as everybody tells the story from their angle and the audience is only getting little snippets of information revealed to them with each new scene.”

Collishaw said Speaking in Tongues differs from what audiences have seen from the company in the past and was a “cast motivated” production even through online rehearsals in lockdown, a venue change and sick crew members.

“This was actors coming to me going ‘we want to do this play, if we find a director, if we find other people can we put it on?’,” she said.

“A lot of the actors in our company have been with us for quite a while and were looking for a challenge.

“Our actors really got to a point where they wanted something more to sink their teeth into.”

Each actor plays multiple characters in the show, which Collishaw said will leave audiences thinking long after the curtains close.

“You’re going to go away from this and be really challenged about your concept of what theatre is, your concept of what relationships are,” she said.

Speaking in Tongues plays at MUIOOF Hall, with evening performances at 8pm on 2 to 3 and 8 to 10 July, and matinees at 2pm on 3 and 10 July.

Tickets are available at bit.ly/3zKc1jp or at the Capital Theatre.