To put it simply, WilL Dickie is moving and talking. More than that, he is thinking and remembering with his body. White Sun at The Blue Room Theatre is the international premiere of the UK-based performance practitioner’s latest offering. What’s on the table? The perfect blend of body, time, space, and text. Truly, this is a theatre master at work.
Beginning as a roaming performance in the foyer and bar and floating into the theatre with the audience, Dickie moves almost constantly for the duration of the piece. From eyeball to fingertip, he displays a precision and divine quality that is completely captivating. He speaks to you directly, conversationally, about himself and how/why he came to be performing here in Perth. As the piece continues there is an eerie quiet about the work. Underscored only by an unsettling white noise that you cannot be entirely certain is there.
It is a work composed of offers. Colonialism, sweet treats, fatherhood, actor training, home renovation, manhood, trade, addiction, ancestry, hard work: offer, offer, offer. Dickie weaves and layers these ideas into an intricate series of intersections, inviting you to follow a path- or not. At times, the project is quite cerebral. The combination of complex ideas and abstract movement may leave the audience behind. Although a sharp 50 minutes, those expecting a fast-paced fringe show will feel the drag of time.
For me, one of the hugely successful elements of this show is the undeniable connection Dickie forms with his audience. This work of theatre simply cannot exist without you there to witness it; everything Dickie offers is for his spectator. Another strength lies in the overall structure of the work. As audience, you are re-invited in at the precise moments your mind may start to drift, or you start working too hard to interpret the physical score. Perhaps these ideological offers are each a lens through which to view the work, or perhaps these are simply thoughts that come to him as he tries to understand himself. Either interpretation is fine.
Amongst the contemplation are pockets of delightful humour and self-aware comedy. Poetic, creatively ambitious and raw, this work is a rare gift; unlike anything you might expect across Perth’s annual performance seasons.
MITCH WHELAN
White Sun by WilL Dickie is presented by The Blue Room Theatre as part of Summer Nights and runs until 1 Feb 2025. For tickets and more information, visit The Blue Room Theatre website.
