Review: Eden at the Substation

Review by Alexa Hafner Keelan

Kate Gaul’s Eden reflects the process of moving on from the naivety of childhood towards the reality of adulthood. The setting of the performance is a small country town where two young girls, Kit and Dan, struggle through their stormy lives at home and they find a body by a river.  

Tension grows from how the story clearly draws a contrast between the innocence of youth and reality that comes with gaining awareness. Even though there is darkness in the story, it is not very confrontational and has been toned down by humour and sentimentality.

Performed in the intimate Substation at Qtopia, the production makes good use of its underground setting. The intimate space, lit simple by a couple of stage lights, develops into an immersive experience allowing the audience to not merely observe, but instead, become involved in the emotional undercurrent of the work.

Performers Lara Lightfoot and Karrine Kannan were able to carry beautifully seamless performances. They easily shifted between multiple characters while also maintaining clarity. It allowed the show to feel expansive despite the minimal staging. 

The dialogue was poetic and lyrical but did not estrange itself from the reality. The conversations reflect the ambiguity of youth, combining the innocence in asking, “What happens to you after death?” with the undercurrents of the community built on secrets. 

The minimal setting, with no more than two benches, worked well enough. The show does not depend on complex scenography but draws its sense of place, using words and performance to create imagery.

The sound design by Nate Edmondson creates an evocative atmosphere, with gentle guitar tunes capturing themes of memory and loss. The sound helped build tension and was quite captivating in heightened moments such as the character’s discovery of each other. 

Eden offers a thoughtful portrayal of youth as Kit and Dan begin to recognise that they cannot stay in their town anymore. The show was well done as it captured the uncertainty of that transition with clarity and strength. 

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