Mercury Fur

Set in a post-apocalyptic East End London, Philip Ridley’s R18+ play Mercury Fur is unlike any other. HBR Creatives and White Box Theatre are bringing a full season of the play to Kings Cross Theatre at the end of the month and we’ve been given an almost 100 per-cent guarantee from the creative team that sitting through the entirety of Mercury Fur will be a challenge. A big challenge. 

Meg Clarke plays Naz, a young lad living in London who has had to survive on his own for a long time in the post-apocalyptic world the characters find themselves in. 

“Ridley has written a script using the classic conventions of a Greek tragedy by way of a farce,” says Meg. “The pace, rhythm, and absurdity of the script creates an unexpectedly joyous experience for both actor and audience to relish.” 

Although Mercury Fur is set in London, and in a post-apocalyptic world, Meg says the themes presented in the play are relevant to our present and potentially our future existence. 

“The content of the script becomes far starker and more serious considering recent political events in Australia and historical devastations across the globe,” Meg said, continuing, “his [Ridley] argument is that what you will see in Mercury Fur could conceivably be our very own future (and perhaps already our present).” 

With these themes (and many more) being thrown onto the stage, Mercury Fur shows experience multiple walkouts per performance. Meg sees this as a challenge for future audience members, concluding, “The play’s performances have a record of 10 walkouts a night minimum. Audiences should come and see this show to test their bravery!”

May 24-June 8. Kings Cross Theatre, 244-246 William Street, Potts Point. $25-$35+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.kingsxtheatre.com

By Madison Behringer