"Theatre hasn’t always been inclusive for artists and audience of our age." Egan Sun-Bin on The Reaction Theory and creating works about the mid-20's experience
The Reaction Theory is a new theatre collective with a passion for creating works for and about young people, which they feel is a massive gap in the industry. At the end of November 2021, the bring their first mainstage production, ‘The Unspoken Word is Joe’ to Backdock Arts in Fortitude Valley. Ads J chatted to the Creative Producer of The Reaction Theory, Egan Sun-Bin, about the inception of his company and what to expect from their upcoming run of ‘The Unspoken Word is Joe’.
Tell us the origin story of your company. How did your company/show/collaboration start?
I started this collective in my second year of drama school where I directed and wrote shows for small community theatre festivals as well as Short + Sweet. The Reaction Theory started by creating work with my colleagues and to experiment with their theatrical voices. The passion to create work targeted for 18–29-year-old grew, as it was a gap I noticed within the industry. Theatre hasn’t always been inclusive for artists and audience of our age and when the pandemic hit, it became even more prevalent that our place in the industry was going to be a challenging one. Thus, we have The Unspoken Word Is Joe and The Reaction Theory.
Tell us about ‘The Unspoken Word is Joe’ in 100 words or less
Well… Be prepared…
In simple, the play is about Zoey Dawson putting on a script reading for her new play that she has written but due to some outside drama… things do not go as planned and Zoey… Well… let’s say she ends up not living her best life.
But… it’s so much more than that. I can’t say much because it will give the game away but it’s very meta. Funny. Sad. Tender. Embarrassing. Funny Sad. Sad Funny. It’s a play that will make you feel the full spectrum of emotions that will make you think about what it means to be young.
Images: Nathaniel Knight
This is your first mainstage production. What has been like to present a show for the first time?
It’s the Reaction Theory’s first big production, but for a lot of us, it isn’t our “first” production. Although most of us come from the same drama school, we utilise our diverse backgrounds as a team in order to have those open and collaborative conversations about theatre which was a vital part of the forming process.
Not being able to create throughout the Pandemic, as young artist, made us (even more so) hungry to experiment with unique scripts plays and discuss ways we could produce them. More importantly, I think we all just generally missed being in a space and creating, which was why finding the right ensemble was vital process for us.
I think it would’ve been very different rehearsing with one different creative or cast member. It wouldn’t be a vibe.
Having Ruby Sanders as our Director and Rachel Nutchey as the leading actress, playing Zoey Dawson, helped to unite the ensemble and have fun all at the same time.
Why did you choose 'The Unspoken Word is Joe' as your first production?
I first encountered this play in my third year of drama school and Rachel was lucky enough to perform and excerpt of the play for her showcase. I really love Dawson’s writing because she’s just so witty and so unfiltered. She really speaks to our generation and our voice as new artists. With choosing this to be The Reaction Theory’s first show… It’s a play that questions our place as emerging artists. When it was first written, this was Zoey’s first real play and being a new writer in the industry and leaving her drama school, she was feeling so much pressure. That’s how we all feel right now. We want to make a name for ourselves and be a working artist but it’s tough and anxiety inducing and coming straight out of that pandemic, this anxiety is very real for us. It’s us right now. The actors and creatives are feeling scared about our future and in this play, you will see exactly that.
Who is your perfect audience member? Who is going to LOVE this event?
This show is supposed to speak to young people. Young people not like high schoolers but those in university, out of university, mid 20’s, those who go and get turnt in the valley every Thursday -Sunday just to get over their ex! Nah, but in all seriousness it’s for those who understand love. Those who understand heartbreak. Those who send texts to their ex while super drunk and then waking up the next day regretting it. It’s for those who understand what it’s like to be young and fail HARD!
What can audiences expect from your show?
A lot.
I don’t want to give it away but…I think my favourite review of the show was “it’s like watching your best friend get drunk and embarrass themselves for an hour”. That’s a pretty accurate summary!
Is there anything else we simply MUST know about the show?
If your cup of tea is safe and predicable theatre, do not come to this show! The Unspoken Word is ‘Joe’ will keep you on the edge of your seat, make you cringe HARD, gasp in shock and at some points, question “Is this a part of the play?”
In short, if you’re not crying over your ex and want a laugh come see our show! Trust me – you won’t regret it!!
‘The Unspoken Word is Joe’ plays Backdock Arts from 24-27 November 2021.
