'Lord of the Flies' - Canberra REP Theatre (originally published 5 Aug, 2024)

“Fear can’t hurt you any more than a dream […] Maybe there is a beast… maybe it’s only us”.

~

Canberra Repertory Theatre’s production of Nigel Williams’ stage play ‘Lord of the Flies’ was my first introduction to William Golding’s classic 1954 novel in theatres – and not a year too late.

Directors Caitlin Baker and Lachlan Houen present an eerie and provocative theatre experience that speaks to proliferating real-world concerns surrounding democracy, abundant atrocities and effective leadership. The grapple for power between Ralph (Joshua James) and Jack (Ty McKenzie) immerses the audiences in a world with no governing authority, the boys entirely alone with nothing but fragile British propriety and their fathers’ doctrines.

The political atmosphere of nuclear war backdrops the narrative, with subtle reminders peppered throughout the production acting to trigger genuine notions of terror and foreboding for post-Cold War audiences. Viewers are compelled to feel as if there is nowhere to go; the desolate island setting comparable to prolific and familiar existential dread.

Lachlan Houen, via the Canberra Repertory Society’s Instagram page, discusses inspiration for the production taken from current affairs. Houen prompts interrogation into how Tory politicians rise to power and the lengths which people will go to maintain order—the implications of such things involving more than anxious sentiments.

During my viewing of the production, it was easy to ascertain that the state of current global politics was playing on each audience member’s mind. Ty McKenzie had audiences hanging on every word of Jack’s monologues preaching about power and domination, his passionate yet uninformed entreaties for support in conquering and vanquishing proving particularly redolent of current US election campaigns.

Golding’s narrative is unequivocally impactful within a visual medium, as viewers can witness the unfolding of corruption before their very eyes. This production effectively displays how self-destruction and deceit are the fault of one’s own folly. Jack’s accusatory attitudes seem McCarthyistic to modern audiences as he paints himself as an enlightened and knowledgeable figure—one capable of saving his allies from a perceived threat.

The play does not take long to divide the boys, and the concept of ‘us versus them’ demonstrates how Ralph’s ineffective democracy gives rise to insurgency while providing topical commentary on the continuing consequences of partisanship. Joshua James’ evocative performance as Ralph highlights how innocent, well-meaning citizens can be corrupted by fearmongers, with vulnerable characters, including Piggy (Winsome Ogilvie) and Simon (Lily Willmott), paying the price.

‘Lord of the Flies’ is meant to disturb its audience. It holds a mirror to our moral transgressions, highlighting most clearly that adversity propels us toward extremism, polarisation, hatred and paranoia. Regardless of how many times it is retold, this story is an impeccable example of how atrocities feed into themselves.

Canberra Repertory Theatre’s talented young actors, directors and production team made this August showcase both enthralling and confronting, the production’s resounding success acting to prove that the nature of human fatuity will forever be topical.