Presented by A Slightly Isolated Dog. Directed by Leo Gene Peters
A high-octane comedic adaption of the legendary story of the Trojan War
Reviewed by Alexandro Gould-Arocha
Riverside Theatres, Parramatta
Until 31st May, 2025
Tickets: https://riversideparramatta.com.au/whats-on/the-trojan-war/
Type: Comedy, Improvisation, Audience Engagement
If you liked: Mr Burns, A Post-Electric Play
The Trojan War is a rambunctious blend of physical theatre, improvisation, comedy, and music that brings history to life in a hilarious and engaging way. Five talented performers re-enact the tale of the ancient decade-long war between the Greeks and the Trojans through physical comedy, song, and an intriguing selection of props and objects. The performers never fail to make us laugh, and some people even have the chance to be a part of the story.
Audience interaction is a vital part of this production which starts even before you enter the theatre. A Slightly Isolated Dog theatre company are known for producing works that blur the lines between performer and audience, creating highly-engaging and inventive theatre, and The Trojan War is no different. The ensemble cast take the audience on a comedic journey detailing the epic battle and heroic characters and villains with modern references and improvised moments. The text weaves between introducing characters, to retelling the story, to existential crises, and more. This play is a top example of physical comedy and unconventional theatre.
The production design is quite minimal, using cleverly-designed props to create visually-striking images of characters, locations, and more. Turning he Lennox theatre-space into a traverse stage, the work reminds me of street theatre in the best way possible, using audience engagement and farcical presentation of a well-known tale.
The Trojan War combines this lively, naturalistic atmosphere with traditional theatre lighting and sound design which creates unexpected and interesting moments on stage. The use of live music adds to the production and entertainment value, however it can sometimes pull the audience out of the story due to its length. While the singers are all talented musicians and the genre and stye fits the nature of the work, it sometimes detracts from the more interesting elements of the story being told on stage.
The fight scenes are brilliantly choreographed, and executed with great precision from the performers. Heightened using creative sound effects, the meticulous direction of these moments are both captivating and hilarious. There are even moments where the fight sequences directly engage with the audience members; it really makes you feel a part of the action.
…the most fun I’ve had as an audience member in a theatre in a while
Physical comedy and gestures are a standout strength of the piece. As artists combine blending elements of clowning, absurdism, and traditional theatre movement, all of the performers have mastered the physicality required for a work of this kind. They create intriguing and engaging images not only with their bodies but with unassuming objects such as cardboard boxes and buckets.
The Trojan War is a hilarious and highly entertaining, unconventional, multi-genre piece of theatre. I highly recommend seeing this piece and other work from the New Zealand based company. It was the most fun I’ve had as an audience member in a theatre in a while. While the tour for this work has just finished, keep an eye on their website for upcoming Australian performances.
Theatre Thought: Improvisation and audience engagement make for exciting, unpredictable live theatre. Do you like to engage as an audience member, or do you try to avoid eye-contact so you don’t get called on?
Cast & Creatives
Production Manager / Operator Sam Clavis
Director Leo Gene Peters
Cast: Jonathan Price, Comfrey Sanders, Andrew Paterson, Jack Buchanan, Susie Berry
