She later honed her writing skills at London’s Royal Court Theatre.

‘Smashed’ is a moving, beautifully written, 40-minute play; it is now showing at the Hayman Theatre in Curtin University, Perth with performances on Sunday 18^th and 25^th, and weekdays at noon.

The set (designer, Noah Bateman) comprises large pieces of broken car, strewn around. Some parts are suspended in the air by fishing gut, giving the appearance of a freeze frame on the horrendous accident that has just occurred. Stage managed by Lizzie Howard.

The soundscape (Max Gipson) was crisp and clear, giving a real chill to the accident. There was a dream sequence, well created by lighting designer, Matthew Arnold. Smooth tech operation by Ashleigh Ryan.

     The lights rise to show the scene of a car crash, with pieces of vehicle everywhere. Draped over the motor parts are two bodies.

     Having just passed their driving test, best friends, Ruby (Kate Elliott) and Hazel (Shanae Tuxford) borrow their Dad’s car and go on a celebratory run. The action takes us back and forward in time, allowing us to experience the girls’ final moments, as their life flashes before their eyes.

Sadly, the amount of work being put into some of the Hayman lunchtime shows has recently dropped off. With fewer posters around the Campus, and with little thought being put into production details like scenery and lighting.

Director Terence Smith, aided by dramaturg Olivia Dugandzic, have done their best to bring standards back up to what was a basic requirement 3 years ago. In those days, a couple of actors would go into the cafeteria and shout at each other across the room advising everyone where the theatre is and how the shows are free each week. Some shows have had barely a dozen in the audience. This production was almost full, proving that if you work hard, the punters will turn up.

The actors had to deliver tragic news, and then seconds later portray their lives as carefree children. The chemistry between the two actors, Kate and Shanae, was superb, greatly heightening the tragic circumstances. The movement was natural, as they acted with their whole bodies, showing meaningful facial expressions and with clear enunciation.

A well-written play cleverly directed and brought to ‘life’ – although in this case that might be the wrong expression – by superb acting. One of only three lunchtime shows worth seeing this year.

The performances begin at 7.00 each evening at the Hayman Theatre Upstairs, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley. The nearest carpark is B13, which is free after 4.00 pm. The show has a short season, running until Saturday, 8^th August.

The design for this show is unique and stunning. Everything is white – brilliant white – every wall, floor, blade of grass, every piece of scenery and all of the props. Pure white. However, the clever and most effective point is that every brick, chair, dustbin etc. has black tape along every edge. The effect is striking. (Designed by Sean Guastavino and built by Ian Stewart).

Karen Cook’s colourful lighting design, worked beautifully on the white, bringing it to life. Elliot Macri’s soundscape was well recorded and brought a few smiles in places.

Each area of the set was minimalistic; there was a train station, a train, a laundry, café and a shop all depicted symbolically.

       A nine-year-old girl (Rhiannon Petersen) stands on the station platform; she has lost her mother. She watches the people around her, fascinated by the gays kissing on a bench and the wild woman (Amy Tamati) shouting her disgust at their behaviour. On another seat, a married couple (Daisy Coyle, Jarryd Dobson) are having their morning ‘warm up’, a pointless argument.

       A courier (George Ashforth) delivers a valuable package to a ‘special’ shop, where the manager (Terence Smith) gives him valuable advice.

     When a jilted bride (Ashleigh Ryan), still in her bridal gown, runs past in a flood of inconsolable tears, a young yob (Jeremy Bunny) tries unsuccessfully to cheer her up – by offering to sell her the latest perfume. He then moves on to robbing a young, gullible girl (Madeleine Mullins).

     All of life certainly passes by in this fascinating city.

Very often students’ devised shows are a collection of short acts, joined poorly together becoming a bit of a Curate’s Egg. This show, however, was magnificent from start to finish; beautifully structured with plenty of very different, but instantly recognisable characters and true-to-life situations.

The cast worked smoothly, most actors having two parts to play. The movement, directed by Joe Lui with dramaturg help from Dylan Searle, was slick and flawless.

This hour show was great fun and well worth seeing.