Final days for theatre of the damned

Through the gap between two buildings, round the back and past the graveyard of a dumsptered ham, visitors are welcomed by the flourishing gestures of an usher.

You already get the feeling you’ve entered a strange world.

Within, there is a proscenium arch above a raised stage with some armchairs, entirely for the benefit of a few curious souls.

The performance begins. All eyes are glued to the giant skeletons that emerge from the dark. They caper around a horrified salaryman and suddenly a dark dream has opened, spilling cartoon furniture, weird sound effects and the ghosts of silent cinema.

For six years, the inner west has been privy to the DIY, expressionist Grand Guignol that is The Surgical Sideshow. Their brief shows have surprised, amused and horrified at various events, clubs and festivals. At the beginning of the year, they unexpectedly hired actual theatres to perform their ambitious “Epic” show for astonished audiences. Now, they are pursuing the bizarre concept of the Surgical Sideshow performing a “new modern classic for the ages” called “Exhibit F”.

The Surgical Sideshow is a relatively recent addition to the unsung history of DIY theatre in Sydney. The Theatre of Hell, Bum Puppets, Frumpus (the list is long) and myriad one-offs have appeared and vanished. Although mainstream theatre also has its wild moments, there is a certain immediacy that exists with this “other”. Perhaps the knowledge that every moment is at the mercy of frequently strange and unknown factors generates the resulting indelible memories: the burnt imprints of DIY chaos.

Herbie (visuals) and Paul (sounds) are the Surgical Sideshow’s strange and unknown factors. They even surprise themselves. Despite writing for jaded palates, their avoidance of the easy thrill of “adult” content has made them an unexpected favourite with small children who sit stock-still, mouths agape to watch the mayhem unfold.

Now they say they will disappear. They won’t say for how long. The Surgical Sideshow is undergoing a geographic separation. Another era appears to be ending. Although there is much sadness in this, it means a new era should be starting any day now.

The Surgical Sideshow’s final performances of Exhibit F are on this weekend. Check www.thesurgicalsideshow.com for details.

BY BONNY