Simone and Justin Drape launch ‘Room Without a View’ at this year’s Sculpture By the Sea in Sydney sponsored by The Monkeys and Song Zu

Actors Jeremy Sims, Denise Roberts and Abe Forsythe star in a performance piece set within the confines of a portaloo at this year’s Sculpture By the Sea, created by Justin and Simone Drape and sponsored by The Monkeys and Song Zu.

The sculpture, Room Without a View, is a three-act play that transforms an unsightly portaloo into an object of intrigue when Darren (Jeremy Sims) finds himself locked inside. While the door remains jammed, he phones his disgruntled ex-girlfriend, his Mum, and his 2nd best friend in an attempt to escape his predicament.

Eavesdroppers outside the portaloo will be able to listen to Darren’s panicked calls for help, which reveal much about his values, relationships and ill-fated decisions.

Says Simone Drape: “We wanted to create an unexpected experience for the audience. We hope it makes people think about what matters most to them, because what happens to Darren could happen to anybody if they don’t listen to friends and family.”

Room Without a View is part of the 17th Sculpture By the Sea in Sydney, which runs from 24th October to 10th November.

The installation is brought to life by an award-winning cast. Sims has been highly acclaimed for his performances in David Williamson’s The Club (2003), Andrew Upton’s Riflemind (2007) and Sydney Theatre Company’s stage adaptation of The Secret River (2013). Roberts appeared in Australian film The Dish and television series such as GP (ABC) and Always Greener (Seven Network). Forsythe played a lead role in the recent Australian mini-series Howzat! Kerry Packer’s War and has appeared in several popular Australian TV series.

Sound design was created by Simon Kane at Song Zu, Sydney.

The Drapes have been collaborating since 2009. Their first sculpture, ‘The Big Drink’, was a 16-metre straw constructed from 450 kilograms of steel and PVC, which was lowered into the ocean by helicopter for the 13th season of Sculpture by the Sea. ‘The Big Drink’ highlighted the irony that Australia is an island surrounded by water, yet there never seems to be enough of it to drink.

Work: The Drapes

Photographed by: Derek Henderson