Eat Slay Zombie | Alinta McGrady
Image credit: Red Handed Media
For context, we watched the opening night of this deadly new work on the evening of the US election in which Trump had been declared victorious. We really weren’t in the mood to do anything really, including seeing theatre. We would have been okay to stay at home and continue crying. But we are so glad we went to the theatre instead. This work reminded us of the hope, joy and fun that we felt absent of at the time.
Set in a post-apocalyptic world where zombies rule and the only form of communication for the remaining survivors is via TikTok, Eat Slay Zombie is a highly entertaining romp led by three contagiously charismatic actors. With a fast-paced and thought-provoking script from Alinta McGrady and energised directing from Lisa Fa’alafi, this new work manages to have mature and nuanced discussions around Indigenous identity flow perfectly with its depictions of social media and a zombie action blockbuster that is giddying in its execution.
The story starts some time after the outbreak of a virus that has turned the vast majority of the population into zombies, where we’re introduced to best friends Sharee (Shanee Hunter) and Tash (Jade Loman-Ronan) who have managed to survive this far thanks to their kickass attitude, TikTok know-how, and some less-than-functional flamethrowers. After discovering that not only is there another survivor nearby (Jalen Sutcliffe), but that this person may also be plagiarising their TikTok survival content, the @BLKBUNKERBTCHES leave the safety of their bowling alley to investigate.
Image credit: Red Handed Media
All three performers bring their A-game, delivering every line of friendly banter or little jab with the same level of energy and passion as their more action-packed moments. And whenever the script demands that the performers go deeper and to explore their characters vulnerabilities, they rise to the occasion. When each performer delivers their character’s individual tragic backstory – usually related to how the zombie outbreak affected their personal lives – they treat it with the gravity it deserves, never falling into melodrama and providing any uncomfortable tension the air it needs.
Nevin Howell’s AV Design was a character in itself, from showing the various Tik Tok videos to paying homage to multiple video games in the action scenes. We’ve never seen technology integrated in such a joyful and seamless way – every shot their to elevate the rich text. Many theatre companies could learn from how non gimmicky this AV design felt…
With the zombie virus echoing the devastating spread of colonialism and the revelation that returning to a traditional Indigenous way of life has likely been the solution all along, this work strikes the perfect balance between humour, genre fiction, and topical messages that are as crucial as ever. On a personal note, thanks to it, there will always be a shred of light for November 6th, 2024.
