Back to Back Theatre find new audiences on Netflix

THE work of critically acclaimed Back to Back Theatre has reached new audiences following the inclusion of its first feature-length film, Shadow, on the streaming platform Netflix.

The 56-minute film is an adaption of the theatre company’s award-winning 2019 play, The Shadow Whose Prey the Hunter Becomes.

It stars a cast of individuals who identify as people with disabilities and is backed by a production crew of interns who similarly identify.

Producer Alice Fleming said the film’s launch on the streaming service demonstrated that Back to Back Theatre’s storytelling style “translates across to screen in a universal way”.

“We feel really proud that Shadow is on Netflix. It continues to demonstrate that there is real interest in Australian stories,” she said.

“We are already discovering that it has allowed the company to reach new audiences locally, who are dropping by to tell us they love the film.

“We can only assume this reach is carrying through more broadly.”

Directed by Bruce Gladwin and co-written by Gladwin and Back to Back Theatre’s ensemble members, including Sarah Mainwaring and Simon Laherty, Shadow is darkly funny, provocative and challenging.

It was filmed in and around Geelong over a three-week period in December 2020 and follows three activists with intellectual disabilities who hold a public meeting.

The trio are concerned about the future impacts of artificial intelligence and are desperate to save the world.

The meeting, however, quickly descends into chaos and the activists discover the greatest threat to their future is already in the room: their prejudice.

Ensemble member Sarah Mainwaring encouraged everyone to watch the film and celebrated its launch on Netflix as a “catalyst for even more recognition”.

“It gives Back to Back a great level of exposure, being such a big streamer,” she said.

“It opens more doors to a larger audience and ultimately then more people are able to experience the show and see our work.

“It gives us strength.”

She said that the film can be “challenging to watch” and different viewers may experience “strong” emotional reactions to its content.

Ensemble member Simon Laherty said it was important for the public to understand artificial intelligence.

“They need to know about the AI, how it works, what it’s there for,” he said.

“If you have Netflix, watch it – understand it – enjoy it.

“If you don’t enjoy it, too bad.”