I was incredibly lucky to be invited to ten Brisbane Festival shows this year, and out of sheer curiosity, I selected the award-winning Volcano as one of them. I walked in without knowing what to expect—and I’m so glad I did. Volcano has easily become one of my favourite shows of the year.
Directed, choreographed, and performed by the acclaimed Attic Projects’ Luke Murphy, this creative experience presents a unique fusion of theatre, dance, and multimedia. With its four-part structure, each episode unfolds like a chapter in a feverish dream, drawing the audience into a hypnotic exploration of memory, identity, and reality.
Setting the Scene
Volcano is presented like a serialised live miniseries, with four 45-minute episodes, each packed with surprises. A 25-minute interval between the final two episodes allows for both physical and mental recalibration.
The performance unfolds within the confines of a dilapidated living room set, enclosed in glass like a specimen on display. The space is littered with relics of a bygone era—ancient radios, dusty televisions, and peeling wallpaper—setting the tone for a fragmented journey through memory.
Episode 1: The Beginning
The show commences with Luke Murphy and Ali Goldsmith, the sole performers, covered in chalk, dancing in slow, deliberate movements against a hauntingly intense soundscape. Though measured, their movements are laden with a disquieting intensity as we learn about the dystopian universe of The Amber Project. Our first hint at the thematic exploration of preservation of ancient memories in amber.
A sudden shift into a high-energy disco scene showcases the pair’s impressive synchrony and vitality. Their sharp, precise movements create infectious energy that had me dancing in my seat. The retro atmosphere is enhanced by colourful lighting, including a ceiling of lighted tiles and scattered lamps, used creatively throughout the performance. As the episode transitions into a game show format, Goldsmith hilariously embodies a cheesy host of "Tell Me All About It," where participants must discuss a given topic under a time constraint. This segment introduces the concept of time capsules—fragments of past lives preserved.
Tension arises when interference disrupts the radio seemingly controlling the two men, causing the actors to “glitch” in real time. Their movements synchronise with the strobe lighting and sounds, reminiscent of video game glitches, to add a surreal, unsettling edge. This intense the sensory experience could easily become overwhelming for sensitive audiences.
Episode 2: The Story Deepens
In the second episode, the narrative delves deeper into the enigmatic world of Volcano. A video segment reveals the inner workings of these “inhabited pods,” where The Amber Project has archived over 140 hours of nostalgic data—a mechanism for replaying preserved memories in virtual reality. The performers conduct vlogs, adding a personal touch and providing insights into their characters’ experiences. Goldsmith observes feeling trapped, like a tight shirt collar around the throat.
When the radio crackles, the performers must adopt various personas and "perform" a complex tapestry of memories and experiences. This exploration feels like The Sims, where individuals are controlled by an unseen force, living repetitive, simulated lives. From scenes of a space detective adventure, a wedding speech, a rave party, a British talk show; the abrupt character shifts showcase the performers' exceptional adaptability. Goldsmith shines as the forced-laughter talk show host, which takes a disturbing turn when black ooze begins to drip from his ear—a recurring visual that signifies glitches in their deteriorating reality.
This episode features captivating contemporary dance sequences where the performers’ reliance on each other is phenomenal. Their lifts and movements are executed with such grace that they seem like extensions of one another. A standout sequence involves Goldsmith dancing with his jacket to symbolise human connection and detachment.
The narrative takes a Truman Show turn as the characters discover hidden cameras and begin to question their reality. Goldsmith’s intense introspective vlog, followed by Murphy’s underwater diver mimicry as he scans the audience with a flashlight, heightens the sense of disorientation and paranoia.
Episode 3: Confronting Reality
By the third episode, the narrative begins to unravel as another video reveals to the audience that they are merely projected virtual versions of themselves, like being asleep and "dreaming" within their pods. Murphy’s character, now completely alone, delivers a weather report that transitions into a contemporary dance. This solo, set against a backdrop of a simulated hurricane and accompanied by an ethereal soundscape, evoke a sense of vulnerability and isolation.
Murphy’s reverse dance sequence, where he flawlessly dances backwards as though rewinding time, is a visually stunning and embodies the theme of attempting to reclaim something lost—moving forward while stuck in the past. The soundscape, like a deafening jet airplane, intensifies the scene. The episode also features an unhinged magician and a William Shatner impression of "Rocketman," providing levity amidst the chaos.
One of the most poignant moments of the entire show occurs during Murphy's solo dance to "Sing Sing Sing." It is both chaotic and emotional, a whirlwind of energy that showcases his character seemingly losing grip on his sanity. His anguish and frustration are palpable as he attempts this swing number alone, culminating in a gripping emotional climax as he desperately attempts to tear the set apart in search of an escape. I genuinely teared up as I watched his descent into madness expressed so viscerally.
Episode 4: The Finale Following the interval, the set had transformed as Goldsmith returns for the final episode. With the room now tidied, the audience is treated to a flashback, capturing the awkwardness of the characters’ first meeting. We then fast-forward two years into the present, where the truth about their existence comes to light—they have willingly entered this constructed simulation, under the watchful surveillance of the Big Brother (I mean the Amber Project.)
The finale is a spectacular display of dance, prop work, and emotional intensity as they use every inch of the space. The choreography navigates through iconic moments from pop culture—Marilyn Monroe’s famous skirt scene, Superman’s cape, E.T. on the bicycle, and the Creation of Adam painting to name a few. In this final montage, the characters seem trapped in a never-ending cycle of performance, unable to break free from their simulated reality even as they literally tear the set apart. As the world collapses around the characters, we are left hanging, wondering whether they ever truly escaped or if they were doomed to perform forever. Murphy and Goldsmith's exhaustion was palpable, as they were drenched in sweat by the end.
Overall Experience
Volcano is a testament to the power of live performance, blending theatre, dance, and multimedia into a thought-provoking experience. The immersive sound design, dynamic lighting, detailed set design, and exceptional artistry contribute to the unforgettable nature of the performance. Murphy and Goldsmith’s performances are both technically proficient and emotionally resonant, grounding the experimental nature of the show with their human presence.
After the performance, the audience buzzed with conversation. I overheard discussions about the parallels to our own digital lives, the endless performances we give online, and the horror of being in stuck in a dream that you cannot wake up from, like Inception.
Despite its length, Volcano never loses its grip on the audience. The show’s exploration of the human psyche is executed with a level of artistry and sophistication that justifies its acclaim. It is a performance that will stay with me for a long time to come.
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