The premise for Future Cargo is simple – a mystery shipment has arrived, a truck driver says “something’s not right…” and news reports of power surges and mysterious otherworldly beings crackle over the radio.

The execution of this premise is anything but simple though, and what results is a multi-sensory experience. Timed to start at dusk, the audience sits under the increasingly dark skies, with the huge flocks of fruit bats flying overhead. Everyone receives headphones, allowing you to control the volume. The sound design immerses you in the show, with sounds coming from seemingly all directions. The truck driver tries to calm his pet dog, and as the side rolls up on his haulage truck, a mysterious process begins.

A clever combination of back-lighting, conveyor belt, silvery costumes and often surprising props shows otherworldly figures figuring out how to become human. As the truck driver’s dog, and finally the truck driver are absorbed into the strange world inside the truck, the show explores what alien contact could possibly involve.

While the show contains clever combinations of different sensory experiences, there is a feeling that there’s potential for more. The pace is slow, and at times repetitive. The performer’s excellent fluidity of movement and use of the conveyor belt can be very engaging, but might not draw younger children in. That said, our eight year old reviewer absolutely loved the show and really appreciated the concept,  the skill of the performers, and the setting. This is a performance that experiments with sound, light, and scenario and has produced a unique experience as a result.