Written by Finn O’Branagain and directed by Kurtis Laing for Good Times Theatrics at this year’s Adelaide Fringe, Selkie is a two-hander that is part Celtic myth, but also a powerful allegory for domestic abuse in relationships.

Selkies are Celtic/Norse mythological creatures who are seals in the water and human on land and Selkie is a modern spin on “The Story of The Selkie Wife”. When a young woman named Ronnad is found stranded on a beach, a man named Sean harbours her in his home under the pretense of keeping her safe while the storm settles despite her protests for the loss of her skin. At first Sean is seen as a saviour, but as the relationship unfolds cracks begin to appear within his veneer with explosive results.

With difficult terrain to navigate, the two cast members, Sage Chihiro Kikui as the young Selkie woman Ronnad and Josh Hammond as Sean, flow in a way that mirrors the ebb and pull of an abusive partnership, each performer amplifying in response to other. The intimate stage at The Warehouse Theatre brought the audience right into the living room with the couple, making it feel inescapably real.

Whether it was the way Ronnad inappropriately acted in front of family and friends or refusing the sexual advances of Sean, the audience could see how affection, fear and control can coexist within the same relationship.

The physicality of Kikui’s performance was impressive, expressing pain, fear and glimpses of joy throughout the hour-long piece. Hammond held his own as the gaslighting and manipulative boyfriend. Both handled the sensitive subject matter well without making it feel overwrought.

When the climax hits, the audience was left in stunned silence, shocked at the events that had taken place. What began as a curious folklore tale became a stark portrait of how easily a home can become a cage.

Selkie is on at The Warehouse Theatre until Saturday, March 21. Get your tickets here.

****

Four stars.