Seeing a play written by Western Australian playwright Andrew Bovell is almost a rite of passage in Perth. His works are renowned across the country and state. They often pop up (deservedly so) in conversations about the most impactful theatre pieces in schools, at WAAPA, and in professional theatre. No exception is this new production of Speaking in Tongues, presented by Black Swan Theatre Company.
Black Swan are regular contributors to Perth’s Bovell canon, having presented Things I Know To Be True in 2023 which opened to rave reviews. This fresh production of Speaking in Tongues is bold, confronting, and beautifully stylised.
The show’s plot darts between characters and series of events to showcase the intimacy of human relationships, and just how many sides there can be to a story.
Four actors play nine different characters whose lives intertwine through a range of encounters that span romantic, professional, and above all, highly emotional contexts.
This production, directed by Humphrey Bower, features the talented ensemble of Matt Edgerton, Luke Hewitt, Catherine Moore and Alexandria Steffensen. The four work phenomenally together to paint detailed stories and backstories of the nine characters within the interwoven plot.
Each actor’s performance develops beautifully over the two acts and offers a stark contrast to where we started in Act One: in a hotel room, watching two affairs begin to unfold.
I particularly enjoyed Catherine Moore’s captivating monologue where she details watching her neighbour doing something seemingly suspicious. Luke Hewitt’s everyday Aussie policeman is played with a good dose of larrikinism and humour. At tense moments, this was welcomed by the audience on tenterhooks.
Fiona Bruce’s set design utilises the theatre’s technical elements and fly space very effectively and ensures adequate playing space is available for Mark Haslam’s striking video and lighting design.
Without giving too much away, a dark moment in Act Two is punctuated spookily with visual effects via projection that offer a new and haunting layer to the text. This was a highlight that I heard many audience members commenting on post-show; very effective.
Bower’s direction ensures pacing and dialogue that I imagine would look a bit confusing on the page. A lot of overlap and characters share certain phrases and words in completely different contexts, which are seamless and immediately digestible to the audience.
I sat in awe for the entire first scene, which saw the actors almost literally ‘speaking in tongues’ as they navigated overlapping passages and presented very impactful insights to the audience.
The use of music in the show, particularly in the first act, works effectively to set the scene and invite the audience into these characters’ worlds. Ash Gibson Greig’s sound design and compositional work is top-notch. Claudia Alessi’s movement direction and choreography are seamless and very visually effective.
Speaking in Tongues is engrossing and thrilling, and offers some very intriguing propositions and questions about morality and relationships. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this very compelling piece of theatre, and would urge Perth audiences to see the stories unfold for themselves.
Speaking in Tongues runs to 14 September at the Heath Ledger Theatre, Black Swan State Theatre Company of WA. 174 William Street Perth.
Tickets: https://blackswantheatre.com.au/season-2025/speaking-in-tongues
Website: https://blackswantheatre.com.au/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/blackswanstc/
Photo credits: Daniel J Grant
Share your thoughts
One response to “Review: Speaking In Tongues Lays Bare The Complexities of Love And Deception”
This reviewer must have been paid as it was aweful and most people had left at intermission. Idea was good but felt drawn out.