Book by Harry McDonald. Directed by Gavin Roach.
‘Foam’ holds a beauty in its honest and raw portrayals, with performances that cannot be missed
Reviewed by Bradley Roe
The Substation, Qtopia Sydney
Until 23rd August
Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/foam-by-harry-mcdonald
Type: Raw, Honest, Dark
If You Liked: Cruise, Iphigenia in Splott
Stepping into Qtopia’s intimate substation for Harry McDonald’s Foam feels like entering a secret space, hidden in plain sight, where subversive stories are stripped back to their raw form. With just 40 seats, the audience is close enough to catch every flicker of emotion and every gasp for air, an intimacy that beautifully serves the play’s unapologetic exploration of darkness, trauma and fractured humanity.
Set as a series of tableaus of our protagonist life, Foam traces the tense and uneasy interactions Nicky has with various men in his life and how he is intrinsically bound to them through acts of violence. Across shifting conversations and fractured relationships, the play examines the cycles of abuse, the search for redemption and the fragility of our connections with others and with ourselves. It’s a stark, often confronting and shocking portrait of how people carry the weight of their own scars.
At the heart of the production is Patrick Phillips as Nicky, delivering an extraordinary performance that deserves to sit at the show’s emotional centre. Phillips has the rare ability to make a character feel fully inhabited, as if the role was written for him. His work is expertly layered and nuanced with each moment growing upon the last. We see Nicky’s change and anger within his performance resulting in an explosion of vulnerability and desperation in the final moments.
Providing light and contrast in this otherwise bleak narrative is Joshua Merten, who takes on the roles of Christopher and Gabriel. Merten brings an appealing brightness to the stage, injecting moments of levity and humour without taking away from the overall dark message of the show. These lighter moments become even more precious against the otherwise shadow heavy story, and Merten handles them with an empathetic touch.
Chad Traupmann’s performances as Mosley and Craig added another compelling layer of the show. Although his Mosley felt a little restrained and under-paced, there was no question his performance in the final scene as Craig was heart wrenching. This was supported by the fabulous work of Timothy Springs who rounded out this talented cast.
…an undeniably affecting piece of theatre
The set design mirrored the play’s stripped back intensity in its minimal and almost bare nature, which allowed us to focus on the performers. The Substation’s confined space does not allow much to be explored, but this worked in the production’s favour here. The intimacy of the venue allowed you to feel the air tighten in moments of tension and soften in rare flashes of tenderness.
Where the production felt less assured was in its direction (Gavin Roach). While the sparseness of the staging could have been a deliberate choice to mirror the play’s emotional emptiness, at times it felt underdeveloped. Certain moments lacked the shock or emotional clarity needed to hit the audience when it mattered, and the pacing occasionally drifted; a sharper focus on these moments of light and shade could have allowed the actors’ work to shine even brighter.
Still, Foam is an undeniably affecting piece of theatre. It is not a Saturday night comedy, but it is a raw, gut-punching look into how the weight of the world can fall more sharply on those already vulnerable. I found myself moved in ways unexpected, and carrying the atmosphere of the piece with me long after it concluded. For all its darkness, there is a beauty in its honesty and in the performances that cannot be missed.
Theatre Thought: In your opinion, are audiences put off by raw and confronting themes, or are pieces like Foam not performed enough?
CAST & CREATIVES
Writer: Harry McDonald
Producer & Director: Gavin Roach
Associate Director & Intimacy Coordinator: Sonya Kerr
Sound Designer: Akesiu Poitaha
Lighting Designer: Megan Heferen
Dialect Coach: Alison Benstead
Performers: Patrick Phillips, Timothy Springs, Joshua Merten and Chad Traupmann
