Melbourne Fringe Review: Consciously Kyah presents powerful creative collaboration Seeping

The first thing that hit me when I entered the dimly lit room in the midst of Sydney Road is the enveloping smell of incense. Basking in a red hued light, an array of flowers had been artfully placed around the area. The stage had been set and Consciously Kyah’sSeeping” was about to begin. The show was intimate, with only a small amount of seats available in the Brunswick Mechanics Institute giving the show an immediete personal touch. The closeness I would feel to the show however, erupted as soon as Kyah began to speak.

With beats presented by the talented producer Crooked Letter, the entire room was surrounded in music that was immersive and flowed effortlessly. The most important part of this spoken word performance however, was the words that dripped from Kyah Parrott’s mouth. Or for better, I should say soul. With an intertwining mix of music, poetry and visuals, the show powerfully explored dealing with pain, vulnerability and survival with momentary yet viciously raw words on toxic masculinity and womanhood. When I listened to the raw, honest way in which Kyah spoke with a voice that melted and resonated with her captivating vocal texture and sincere lyricism as she tackled topics that hit so close to home. In the performance, Kyah Parrott creates a mirror that the audience members lose themselves in as recognise their own feelings through hers and my own feelings were no exception.

Whilst beautiful and enthralling, their were moments in the performance that drew away from it’s vision. Technical difficulties scattered throughout the performance due to the usage of a projector, and the less than flowing transition between different visuals pulled away from the overall experience however Kyah was always quick to draw audience members back into her poetry and away from the issue. A highlight was also most definitely the live drawing of Kyah in which artist Charlotte Allingham created a portrait illustration that was projected over the course of the show, spotlighting incredible talent and giving the show another creative touch.

Overall, Consciously Kyah’s performance “Seeping” tore down walls and dripped in relatable pain, coping, sex and moments that push us to the edge. As my first spoken word exploration, it most definitely will not be my last. Beautiful, raw and real.

FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)

Seeping will be playing at Brunswick Mechanics Institute- Studio for Melbourne Fringe Festival until the 21st of September. More information and ticketing can be found HERE. 

This reviewer attended the show on the 19th of September.