The Breakout at The Mill, Wed 2 Mar. Writer Matthew Barker has taken his experience from working in aged care homes to bring to our attention something he is very passionate about – how we treat older Australians who are living with dementia. The plot takes us on a wild ride experiencing what it is like to live in an aged care ‘fish bowl’, by showcasing a number of different resident and staff interactions which each last for a few minutes at most. We see both male and female residents frequently in an agitated or heightened state, and then also being calmer and more compliant, but always still achingly confused. Whether it be the residents who are still trying to grasp on to the people they once were, or the frustrated staff that are often dealing with very difficult situations for very low pay, Matthew’s empathetic script ensures they are presented with a degree of dignity, and the poignancy of the characters’ situations is obvious. Mathew and Evie Leonard are both impressive in their ability to totally inhabit the multiple characters and bring them to life. Matthew’s intensity & energy is nicely balanced by Evie’s calmer and lighter touch. The play begins with a woman who was once a very gifted pianist who is still lost in that world. A very angry man used to having his own way is now railing against his feeling of helplessness and confusion. A highlight occurs in the final interaction with Matthew taking on the role of a rather haughty female resident who needs a lot of reassurance and cajoling to get ready for bed and to hand over her dentures for the dentist. Given the low budget of this production some very clever ideas have been used. Bed sheets are folded to become screens for video presentation, chairs become beds. The clever use of audience participation is effective. Beware you might be called upon to respond as a resident of the Fish Bowl, suggesting that any one of us could find ourselves in similar situations to the dementia residents. A singalong with the audience invited to join in also works as a ploy. We are all in this community somehow or other. The script sympathetically highlights the plight of both residents and staff, and the authenticity shines through. An amusing HR Training & Development session on ‘manual handling’ soon turns into a gulp moment as a method suggested to be used for ‘uncooperative’ residents is demonstrated. But care is taken not to demonise staff or residents. We are just presented with a crafted version of this reality told with care and told with heart. Still a little rough around a few edges, but this perhaps even intensifies the reality of the chaos being presented. But we are all human, and any of the situations presented in this play just might happen to us. The Fish Bowl is a brave and thought-provoking work. Directed by Stephanie Daughtry