Memorandum – Kate Hunter

Overview

Memory is weird. Sometimes it makes sense and other times it runs in loops, unfinished and unresolved. Memorandum seeks to demonstrate the disconnection between memory and reality, and the strangeness of recollection itself. In this intimate and immersive piece, Kate Hunter explores the weirdness and unreliability of the mind.

"I have this ongoing image on my mind from childhood of a number of people — grownups — who have nappies on. So I don’t know what that’s about." The show features Hunter retelling stories varying formats, all the while second guessing the truth of her memory. The topic was actually developed after Hunter spent four years researching cognitive neuroscience for her PHD in Performance Studies.

Her performance is strong, her storytelling skills are admirable, and her memories (whether they are accurate or not) are fascinatingly obscure. However among the constantly changing and confusing dialogue, I struggled to find a richer meaning other than 'Goddamn it, why can’t I remember things better?' It would have been good to see a bit more of the scientific side of the concept, or at the very least, a deeper exploration of the concept.

Part poetry, part physical theatre, part audio/visual show, Memorandum perhaps tries to cross too many theatre 'to dos' off the list. One that really got me was the microphone capturing Hunter’s breath. Perhaps it was an attempt to remind us of the frailty of the mind, or the life force that drives memory — but really it was just kind of distracting. Plus I hate bodily noises, so...

Visually, the piece is beautiful. Hunter crawls through pools of light, stands amidst projections of herself and creates ghoulish shadows across the back wall. There is a particularly striking moment of audiovisual design where words trip down panels of cloth featuring projections of Hunter herself while she recalls yet another unbelievable story from her life.

While the production looked good, and the stories were engaging, I didn’t feel particularly challenged by the piece, despite it making a statement I wasn’t sure I understood. However, with such a short work — just under an hour — it was simply a pleasure to be immersed in Hunter’s weird and wonderful mind.

Photo credit: Leo Dale.