THEATRE: DEFIANCE
REVIEW BY AMELIA GROOM
From Smallpox in 1881 to the Plague in 1901 and Spanish Influenza in 1919, the quarantine station at North Head was used to fight the outbreak of disease in Sydney right up until 1984. The site has now been re-developed and re-named ‘Q Station’ offering tours, accommodation, dining and even a day spa.
They’ve also given theatre a shot. Defiance is a new production that was developed specifically for the former quarantine station, telling the history of the original heritage site through stories of people who were interned there over the years.
It’s a fantastic place to go at night, with an eerie sense of history and spectacular harbour, headland and city views. The striking setting is incorporated effectively into the show, with the first act taking place in the old laundry, and the second half in the old hospital on top of the hill.
Windows open up and some of the action happens outside on the veranda, so audiences are reminded that they’re in the authentic buildings where the stories took place.
However, the script is shallow and strained and the production feels more like a two-dimensional history lesson than an engaging piece of theatre. Rather than telling its story through enactment, information is spelt out too often via voice-overs, leaving very little to the imagination.
Don’t expect absorbing or stimulating entertainment ‘ Defiance is recommended just for tourists interested in the site or those looking for a novel night out in a unique surrounding.
Defiance
Q Station at North Head
$52-$65
Bookings: 9976 6220 or www.qstation.com.au
