Presented by: The Adelaide Repertory Theatre (The REP)
Reviewed: 24 April, 2025
To open their 2025 season, The Adelaide Repertory Theatre (aka The Rep) have selected a very challenging piece of theatre. The Other Place is a deep and moving glimpse into the life of a woman struggling with early-onset dementia, and the emotional challenges that she and her family face. This is a brilliant play that will hit hard.
Sharr White’s script masterfully puts a spotlight on the emotions a whole family goes through when a loved one is diagnosed with dementia. It tells the story of Juliana as she comes to terms (or not) with dementia and the impact on her life. White’s script packs an emotional punch, but it is also peppered with some light moments of humour that director David Sinclair draws upon in a brilliant way to help ease the emotional tension.
Director David Sinclair has assembled an extraordinary cast for The Other Place. His years of experience as a director are on display. Every moment, every detail in this show has been carefully and thoughtfully considered. Sinclair has approached this production with the utmost care and respect. He, along with the cast, pulls on your heart-strings at every twist and turn. The scenes flow one to the next with no or minimal blackouts, which keeps the emotional momentum flowing relentlessly and gives the audience (and cast) no time to relax.
The Other Place is an excellent example of ensemble theatre at its finest, with the talented Robyn Brookes at the helm as Juliana. The majority of this cast are known for their amazing work in the Adelaide Musical Theatre scene, but in this play, every one of them is extraordinary.
Robyn Brookes’ performance as Juliana Smithton is a tour-de-force. Every moment of Brookes’ performance is believable, filled with fragility and humanity. Brookes finds a great balance between her character’s belief in what she says and sees, and the underlying knowledge that she is an unreliable narrator. She brings so much emotional depth and understanding to the role. One thing that really stood out in Brookes’ performance was when Juliana would stammer over words, trying to grasp a forgotten word or concept, and the sheer frustration that poured out.
As Juliana’s husband Ian, Scott Nell brings an emotionally charged performance. There is so much light and shade in his performance, growing from worry, to frustration and then bursts of anger before pulling it back again. The argument scenes between Nell and Brookes were extremely powerful.
Tegan Gully-Crispe as ‘woman’ switches between multiple roles with ease. The contest between each role is excellent through changes in body language and accents. Particular credit must go to Gully’s final character, which she approached with so much care — I don’t want to give too much away, you need to see it!
Brendan Cooney as ‘man’ also plays several roles. Cooney is an exceptional actor, knowing exactly how to deliver a line so it lands with the most impact. His phone call sequence between him as the supposed son-in-law and Juliana is powerful.
The set, designed by Sinclair and constructed by Stanley Tuck and Barry Blakeborough, whilst simple in design, allows the audience’s focus to be entirely on the cast and the script. The box set, comprised of full length window frames, a white office chair and two benches is really all that is needed. Richard Parkhill’s thoughtful lighting design adds an extra layer of emotional impact, reflecting the thoughts and feelings of the script at any one time.
The Other Place is a powerful piece of theatre that is superbly performed by an exceptional cast. It is powerful, raw and confronting. Your emotions will be played with and your heart will ache for Juliana and her family. The cast, David Sinclair and The Rep should be commended for bringing such a moving piece of theatre to the Adelaide stage. I don’t say this lightly, but this is a must-see.
Reviewed by Ben Stefanoff
Photo credit: Richard Parkhill
Venue: The Arts Theatre, Angas Street, Adelaide
Season: 24 April – 3 May, 2025
Duration: 82 minutes – no intermission
Tickets: Adult: $32 / Concession: $28.50
Bookings: https://adelaiderep.com/season-2025/the-other-place
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