Over nearly three hours, including two intervals, this engrossing epic production follows the experiences of a six-member Sri Lankan Tamil family from 1995 to 2022, during and after the civil war in Sri Lanka.
Eight actors perform multiple roles, except for the matriarch, Gowrie, portrayed by charismatic Bharatanatyam dancer Anandavalli.
The family’s religious beliefs vary. Gowrie is Hindu and her husband is Christian. Their eldest daughter, Abi, is Hindu, second daughter, Madhu is Christian and youngest daughter Lakshmi is an atheist. Their son Ahiklan is Hindu.
The narrative moves back and forth in time, with simple markers at the side of the stage, identifying each year. When civil war shatters the family’s idyllic life and forces them from their home, Abi leaves to study in Sydney and Ahiklan joins the Tamils.
Gowrie reacts by putting on a blindfold, vowing to wear it until her children are reunited. She then sets out with Madhu and Lakshmi on a dangerous search for safety.
What is most remarkable is how clearly and effectively this complex story emerges with deceptively simple staging, as the actors share in seamlessly portraying the many characters Gowrie and her daughters encounter on their arduous journey.
Dale Ferguson’s starkly simple setting consists of a grimy, bullet-scarred wall surrounding a constantly revolving stage. A raised platform to one side, accommodates the two musicians who create the music and sound effects, which include bomb blasts and rifle fire.
It grows increasingly evocative with the addition of model cars, trains, planes and even a miniature Harbour Bridge to signal shifts in place, time and travel, while the actors bring on and remove the necessary props.
Damien Cooper’s lighting design is especially impressive in the beautiful roadside wedding and the harrowing massacre scenes.
The Jungle and the Sea is a powerful, engrossing production which demonstrates the capacity of good theatre to illuminate human experience through deceptively simple staging and exceptional performances.
The Jungle and the Sea
The Playhouse – Canberra Theatre Centre, Civic Square, Canberra
Performance: Sunday 9 August 2026
Season: 6 – 9 August 2026
Southbank Theatre, The Sumner, Southbank Boulevard, Southbank
Season continues to 12 September 2026
Information and Bookings: www.mtc.com.au
Images: The Cast of The Jungle and the Sea – photo by Sriram Jeyaraman | Anandavalli in The Jungle and the Sea – photo by Sriram Jeyaraman | The Cast of The Jungle and the Sea – photo by Sriram Jeyaraman
Review: Bill Stephens OAM