Perpetual Frustration Machine at Theatre Works

One of Australia’s leading circus directors Zebastian Hunter (Cirque du Soleil, NICA, NIDA), premieres his most recent work, Perpetual Frustration Machine, featuring a stellar cast and acclaimed creatives at Theatre Works from 7 - 23 December.

Perpetual Frustration Machine is an explosive insight into the universal dilemma of modern human desire, combining surreal circus work with athletic brilliance, astonishing imagery and provocative text.

Four daring physical artists will throw themselves against the destructive desire for darkness, embracing the poetry of Sewell’s text whilst taking the audience on an adventure spanning great heights. Comical, poignant, frenetic and poetic, this joyous dance of daring circus invites audiences to cavort along with performers until the worlds end.

Co-creators, Stephen Sewell (AFI Award Winner, Head of Writing - NIDA) and Hunter, have imagined a circus drama inspired by the seminal works of psychoanalyst and philosopher, Jacques Lacan, particularly his relationship to the Death Drive.
Hunter and Sewell are joined by some of Australia’s leading theatrical creatives including associate director Benjamin Sheen (Assistant Director – STC, MTC and Opera Australia) and lighting designer Richard Vabre (Circus Oz, MTC, Malthouse, NICA), alongside Hunter’s regular collaborators Stephanie Howe (Production Design - Griffin Theatre Company) and Ian Moorhead (Sound Designer – MTC, Malthouse, ADT).

The cast includes legendary physical theatre visionary Debra Batton (Legs on the Wall, Circus Oz, A Good Catch) following an acclaimed season at Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and features some of Australia’s brightest circus performers including Adam O’Connor-McMahon (Perth International Arts Festival, Strut n Fret, Maximaa), Seth Scheuner (Circa, Ecole Nationale De Cirque, Flying Fruit Fly Circus) and Stephanie Benson (Feed the Horse, NICA).

Following Hunter’s acclaimed production of Empty Bodies and sell-out season of Le Sacré, Perpetual Frustration Machine is a startling display of acts, juggling, tight wire, contortion, pole dancing, aerial hoop, knife throwing and much more to express the extreme depths of our modern affliction.