Pony Cam is an Australian based collective that specializes in experimental and subversive performances that both delight and challenge its audiences. Burnout Paradise is no exception to this. Four of the five Pony Cam members need to complete tasks designated to four different stations, namely Survival, Admin, Leisure and Performance, the only caveat? They must complete them while on treadmills AND attempt to break their personal best of most kilometres run in four 10-minute intervals. The fifth member acts as timekeeper, merchandise peddler and Berocca distributor. The audience are enlisted to be the magic helpers, putting sunblock on one runner on the LESIURE treadmill while pouring water in a pot for pasta for the SURVIVAL runner. It’s as bizarre and chaotic as it sounds.
The audience is guaranteed a refund if the collective does not complete all their tasks and beat their distance personal best, and that would perhaps be incentive for the audience to either be unhelpful or to sabotage the team. However, it felt like a collective win when the performers not only completed all their tasks but also beat their PB distance by a slim 0.1m, even if it meant no refund was incoming.
It’s a wild exploration into the capitalist, fast paced world we currently live in and perfectly illustrates how much help and community we need to survive it. The piece itself is one of the most enthralling and athletic on at this year’s fringe, and perhaps the most on brand with the Olympics having just taken place across the pond in Paris. Burnout Paradise is a joyous feat accomplished with ingenious theatre making and originality.
Image provided by Summerhall Press Release.