Gecko ensemble, famous for its wonderous choreography’s did not disappoint in Kin. The way the performers flow between formations gives a feeling of movement reflecting the story of migration.
The piece is entirely held up by the creative skill involved. The lighting design moves with the performers and demonstrates a range of possibilities covering the intimate and expansive moments of the piece. It’s cinematic feels helps capture how the characters feel and expresses the arduous journey of a migrant.
The music clearly marks the different community identities and has a melancholic folk touch which adds to the heartbreak. The sound design in conjunction is particularly effective when using distortion to add to the pain and anguish and pierces through the minor notes.
The set design also excelled in using various mechanisms to create an enchanting world. The way the stage pulls back created a physical barrier, visualising the boarders, is particularly poetic.
However, the story attempts to encapsulate such a vast and variety of migration stories and yet is not able to capture the complexities which makes each story individual. In attempting to take on so much it does not allow the audience to connect on an individual level and at times feels reductionist.
However, more than ever this story has the power to directly speak with the current political climate. The message is clear: look to our ancestors for guidance on preventing present day terrors.
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