Immersive underwater show farewells historic theatre

An “immersive” theatre production set in an underwater world will provide the strangest of farewells for a historic former dance hall in Melbourne.

The Austral in Collingwood, one of the city’s few remaining picture theatre/dance hall buildings from the 1920s, is set to be partially demolished and turned into apartments.

But before that happens, it will stage one last show, Love Lust Lost – although stage isn’t quite the right word.

The show will play out across dozens of performance areas in the venue simultaneously in a choose-your-own-adventure for theatre, from production company Broad Encounters.

The Austral’s stalls and balcony are still intact, making for a rich and romantic performance space, according to co-writer and company founder Kirsten Siddle.

“I just couldn’t believe that it was sitting here empty,” she told AAP.

“It’s so grand and so beautiful … it’s a little sad but also we’re happy that she’s giving us a home for the next little while.”

Brave audience members will be invited aboard the E.V. Nautilus, helmed by the mysterious Captain Anderson, and can make their own way through the building to discover secret bars and hidden rooms.

“If you decide you want to open that journal or rifle through that desk or if there’s a door ajar there and you can’t help but want to see inside, you can,” Siddle said.

(Speaking of plot twists, for a time The Austral was a cinema, before becoming a rollerskating rink, then a store called Mr Carpets Floorworld – after which an apartment block feels like a disappointing final chapter.)

The underwater world of Love Lust Lost is inspired by Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid and Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness.

Love Lust Lost has already had a successful season in Brisbane – with one review describing it as a must-sea production.

Broad Encounters’ first immersive theatre show, A Midnight Visit, had an audience of 67,000 in shows around Australia.

Love Lust Lost plays The Austral from September 8.