Shore Break takes you on a salty journey of remembrance and redemption
Presented by: Brink Productions and State Theatre Company South Australia, Stateside
Reviewed: September 4, 2024
Shore Break is the brainchild of South Australian writer and performer, Chris Pitman. Pitman is also a surfer, and has spent years chasing waves along the coast where he meets fellow enthusiasts. His passion for the ocean, his eloquence, and fondness for wry Australian vernacular combine in his new one-person play.
The set is simple yet carefully arranged. A natural, woven rug lies in the middle of a black stage. Our stand in for sand. Beach supplies are scattered around: a single towel, an old juice container being used as a water bottle, a low folding chair, wetsuit, and surfboard. From these humble and weathered items, the audience can already gleam much about the narrator before he walks outs. His face is lined with careless grey stubble, wearing faded jeans and a t-shirt. Someone who would rather share the breach with brown snakes and baby lizards than hipsters and influencers.
The narrator is not given a name, because he represents many Australians. He speaks for every person who goes to the beach in search of solace and solitude. He remembers the small yet stinging traumas of his childhood, and how the beach offered him the freedom and relief he desperately craved. His stories are told with passion, honesty, and a dark sense of humour. His cries turn into a whisper as he recounts his life’s greatest regrets, and how each one leads him back to the ocean. But can the waves also offer him redemption?
Shore Break is a passionate story of remorse, yet a feeling of hope is allowed to linger in the salty air. The audience is putty in Pitman’s hands, laughing when he wants and crying along with him. It packs a powerful punch, especially considering the skeleton crew behind it. Pitman as writer and performer, along with Chelsea Griffith and Chris Drummond as directors, should be celebrated.
Reviewed by Nicola Woolford
Venue: Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre
Season: 3rd – 7th Sep, 2024
Duration: 75 minutes
Tickets: $60.00 – $70.00
Bookings: https://statetheatrecompany.com.au/shows/stateside-shore-break/
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