3 minute read
THEATRE: Touching The Void
from DNA Magazine # 264
by gmx63819
W I T H M AT T H E W M Y E R S THE DEEP FREEZE
A terrifying true story comes to the stage to reveal hidden truths about the human condition.
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ne of the most acclaimed
Odocudramas of all time is 2003’s Touching The Void. This truthis-stranger-than-fiction story resonates with people because it details survival against the odds. It’s the story of mountaineers Joe Simpson and Simon Yates who, after successfully climbing Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes, suffered a near-fatal experience on their descent.
Simpson wrote a book about the experience in 1988, which became a successful production and earned a British Academy Film Award. It has been adapted to the stage by playwright David Greig, renowned for his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
As Australian theatres reopen, the Melbourne Theatre Company is the first outside of the UK to present this unique play, directed by Petra Kalive (The Lifespan Of A Fact).
In the roles of Simpson and Yates are Joe Klocek (The Dry) and Karl Richmond (The Lifespan Of A Fact) respectively, while Lucy Durack (Wicked!) plays Simpson’s sister Sarah, looking for answers about her missing brother.
“When I found out MTC was bringing Touching The Void to the stage and I was being considered for the role of Joe Simpson, I was over the moon,” says Klocek.
“I’d read the book in 2014 and was immediately drawn to the story. I couldn’t believe it was true, as it seemed like such an impossible tale of survival. Joe’s obviously more than a make-believe character and he must have one of the strongest minds known to man. The traumas he faced and overcame on the mountain are at times just unfathomable. I read and reread the play and it was a blessing to have so much online content about mountain climbing and on Joe himself. It’s often daunting to play a real-life person, but it’s more about embodying the mental and physical challenges that he faces, rather than finding a way to imitate the real person.”
Without giving too much away, the story involves a tragic turn of events in which Yates has to cut a rope, sending Simpson plummeting into a deep crevasse. Assuming he was dead, Yates continued his descent.
“It’s also a story of mateship and love,” says Klocek. “It’s about the challenges of making decisions where you put yourself first in order to survive. The story will make you question your values and what you would do in the face of danger. You don’t have to climb mountains to relate.”
For Richmond, taking on the role of fellow climber Simon Yates involved reading up on the German philosopher Heidegger and his concept of Dasein, which involves existential philosophy. The actor recently hiked the Grampians using a compass, which his best friend engraved with the word Dasien.
“I’ve also been using my skateboard a lot,” says Richmond. “It requires focussing on the moment before attempting a trick and the mental effort required to push through multiple mental barriers. I’m petrified of bringing the idea of the show to the audience and I want them to be immersed.
“Emulating a cold and frightening mountain on stage in the middle of a Melbourne summer isn’t the easiest,” says Richmond, “but fortunately we’ve got the brilliant design of Andrew Bailey, Kat Chan and our director Petra Kalive making it much simpler than it should be.”
Touching The Void has already earned praise on London’s West End, earning fivestar reviews. Its symbolism and drama are just as emotionally effective as any crashing chandelier or f lying carpet.
“I’m excited to bring such a physical story to the stage and one that has both spectacle and heart,” says Klocek.
“It’s a story about hope, friendship and overcoming dark days. Mind over matter is also a big theme and something the world relates to now more than ever. The pandemic has been a mountain itself and challenged us both mentally and physically. Touching The Void is a story of hope and survival, mirroring the world we live in right now.”
MORE: Touching The Void runs Jan 17–Feb 19 at Melbourne Southbank Theatre. For more: www.mtc.com.au
CARLOS CAMPOS PHOTOGRAPHY BY
