Erth’s Shark Dive | Erth Visual & Physical Inc.
Who knew you could go diving with a great white on the banks of the Meajin/Brisbane River? Erth's Shark Dive by Erth Visual & Physical Inc. transports you to the heart of the ocean in an immersive experience with a gloriously gorgeous great white shark.
Image from Brisbane Festival
The performance starts with a soul soothing Welcome to Country which beautifully interweaved the site of performance, history of story telling, and the connection to the ocean. From there, my viewing companion and I were presented with two choices for our on-ear surround sound experience: ‘calm’ or ‘thrill-filled’. I chose ‘calm,’ while she chose ‘thrill’.
The music guided my experience was peaceful and beautiful. To me, the music really captured that soothing feeling you have when floating in a gentle current. To my understanding, my friend's soundtrack was more energetic and unexpected. It was interesting to see how this affected the way that we engaged with the piece. For example, I was calmly approaching the edge of the cage and wanted to be closer to the incredible creature. My friend, on the other hand, engaged in a much more restrained way, admiring the dangerous beauty of the shark from a distance.
The performance seamlessly blended educational content about the mesmerising ocean and its inhabitants, particularly sharks, with the exhilarating sensation of a simulated diving experience. The puppetry was nothing short of magnificent, leaving me utterly enamored with their artistry and craftsmanship.
The performers that worked on the show were clearly very passionate which made it all the more enjoyable. The puppeteers radiated an infectious enthusiasm for their craft.
Usually, I prefer to approach reviews with a blank slate. I like to attend shows without prior knowledge, allowing myself to maintain an open mind and avoid forming preconceived notions based on titles, blurbs, or promotional materials. This approach ensures fairness in my reviews, as I believe that knowing too much beforehand can potentially lead to disappointment. My curiosity, however, got the best of me this time, and I couldn't help but imagine that Erth’s Shark Dive would be a thrilling immersive 'cage diving' experience. I was genuinely excited.
Now, obviously, I know that Erth’s Shark Dive did indeed deliver on the immersive 'cage diving' aspect, but it offered so much more than I had anticipated, leaving a surprisingly profound impact on me. The performance was informative but also deeply moving and beautiful, providing insights into the underwater world that I hadn’t expected. It was short and sweet, and yet left a lasting impression. I cherished every second of Erth’s Shark Dive and suggest going if you have the opportunity.
If you are looking for a fun and educational family outing or even an out-of-the-box date idea, I recommend diving into the depths of this piece and letting it transport you to the wonders of the deep blue sea.
Erth's Shark Dive plays at the Brisbane Circus Centre in Hamilton multiple times a day until Friday 29 September.
