Show laments loss of the video store

One of the first shows I saw from Re:group theatre collective – which consists of University of Wollongong performance alumni – was Floorboards #1, a site-specific production that took place in actor Carly Young's house in Mount Keira in 2012. The work was a voyeuristic experience, with scenes seamlessly appearing on windows and balconies, guided by projections and lighting while the audience watched from cushions on the front lawn. I hadn’t seen anything like it.

Over a decade later and the group has become a powerhouse in the Australian theatre scene, known for creating immersive, live cinematic performances.

Their latest show is Coil, a story about the loss of community spaces and the complex nature of nostalgia inspired by Thirroul video store Leading Edge, which closed in April 2020 after 40 years of operation.

Coil has toured Australia, including a notable performance at the Sydney Opera House in 2022. Now Re:group are returning to their Wollongong roots for a second season at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre in July.

Co-creator and performer Steve Wilson-Alexander says: “I think tying in place and people and our stories, and trying to make things a bit more vulnerable and a bit more connected, is really important.”

Coil interweaves real stories, including that of video store owners John and Marion Wallace, with Steve's own experiences growing up in Thirroul.

It's a semi-biographical structure that resonates with local audiences, making it clear that telling intimate stories through authentic settings has remained integral to Re:group's work.

Coil was devised during the 2020 Covid lockdowns, when everyone was yearning for community spaces and the video store became a powerful symbol for the sense of loss we were experiencing as a nation.

Re:group have used the actual sign from Leading Edge, which used to hang above the shop, to tangibly connect audiences with their own memories of the store.

“Everyone has really vivid, strong recollections of video shops," Steve says. "I’m finding that often it was people’s Friday nights. Their ritual. The kids would get left in the video shop while the parents got the take-away.”

With a strong focus on the communities made in video stores like Leading Edge and their saddening demise with the introduction of streaming services, it seems appropriate that Re:group uses live cinema as the medium to tell this story.

Also fitting is Steve's use of a 90s pop culture reference to explain the mastery of Solomon Thomas’s video design for the show.

“He’s like that episode of the Simpsons where Lisa puts her tooth in the petri dish and it starts a civilisation overnight,” Steve says.

For Coil, Solomon has 3D-printed components for his camera rig and he controls the show wirelessly using a Wii remote that talks to three computers. This level of technical expertise enhances the show's magic. But Re:group is also careful with its use, ensuring that the vulnerability and complexity of the performance is not overshadowed by flashy technicalities.

Coil is a must-see. Running from July 26-29 at the IPAC in Wollongong, you can get your tickets here to see Leading Edge revived on stage.