AS part of their final assessment for their Performing Arts degree the students staged three productions. Unfortunately I did not get to see the first two but judging by the standard of The Pillowman if the others were of the same calibre they must have been brilliant.

This very dark play had many facets to it and the audience had to change their perceptions of the characters as the play unfolded. A policeman Ariel, impressively played by Colin Dean together with Detective Tuposki a spiky individual well played by Emily Johnson take into custody a young writer Katurian superbly played by Gary Phillips.

Katurian is a writer whose stories imitate real life murders occurring in the vicinity. Into this mix comes a very disturbed young woman Mika superbly played by Sarah Culver. The tale has many facets and as it unfolds in this sinister and oppressive scenario the audience is taken on a dark and terribly journey into a world of cruelty and suffering.

Each of the four characters played their parts convincingly they all had impressive CV’s and under their accomplished director Jaide Stone both the horror and the black comedy were cleverly brought to the fore. There were some interesting exchanges between the two police in what first appeared to be ‘good cop, bad cop’ but in the end their roles were reversed.

The care and love shown by Katurian to his damaged sister was touching. The story is told in a series of scenes and tableaux making the action even more dramatic. The lighting and sound were both striking aiding the story as it unfolded.

The very shocking ending left the audience in silence and you could have heard a pin drop .Also involved in this production Creative Director Charlotte Poole, Art Marketer Amanda Cairns Technician Josh Clipsham and Sam Phillis Technician and Stage Hand. All these students are about to graduate and advance in their chosen careers and I wish them every success. It will not be easy in the present climate but judging by their outstanding work they should all do well.