Time Out Sydney – 21 January, 2015 – Giles Hardie

For many, clowns are terrifying – but in this Brechtian movement piece they become genuinely evil

Reviewer rating: Rating: 4out of 5stars

Within a grey underground setting, three black-nosed clowns set about a malevolent task. At first their aim is unclear. They may be constructing an unusually large game of Mouse Trap. Soon the only colour in the setting is revealed, however: the convoluted contraption is revealed to be a cannery for clown noses. The red kind. These are clown cannibals.

The scenario shifts and shifts again as the absurdity and surreality of the theme is explored. The traumatic trio betray each other to varying degrees, through movement, violence, humiliation and the audience – called upon at one point to exchange monetary donations for the opportunity to throw bread at a crucified clown.

Oddly in being overtly evil, these clowns are in many ways easier to watch than their colourful cousins. This is not a show designed to be overly entertaining or entirely comprehensible, yet it is enough of both to satisfy and inspire.

The real talent comes in the constantly kinetic display. This is a perfect use of movement based theatre: visceral, visual and violent all at once.

http://www.au.timeout.com/sydney/theatre/features/14049/the-long-pigs