REVIEW: Niusia by Beth Paterson at Theatre503 12 – 23 May 2026
‘moments of excellence and Paterson is one hell of a performer, but … ‘ ★★
Boxed-up books slam to the floor with the weight of a secret family history. Glimpsed at first through snippets of conversation remembered as a child, Beth Paterson eulogises her grandma, Niusia, in her solo show that traces her story through the Holocaust, life in Australia and recounts the twists of generational trauma that run through Paterson’s and her mother’s bones.
It’s a coming-of-age tale that works backwards not forwards, romantic in its very nature, but with a sharp historical edge. There are moments of excellence and Paterson is one hell of a performer, but form is not married to context here and this makes need for some serious edits.
A show should be the sum of all its parts and Paterson splices together different elements with too great an ease. At once, she plays the dark comedian recalling jokes from family gatherings, in another, the errant academic, recounting the atrocities of Nazi military physician Josef Mengele (the “Angel of Death”) who her mother, forcibly worked under as a secretary even though she was in the camps herself.
Sayings from the Talmud and Torah, Judaism’s most prominent scriptures, are not settled well with the impressionistic sketches Paterson gives of her childhood. It feels like a central point is missing here as the play reaches further than just Niusia. It’s a commentary upon much of Jewish history from the 20th century till now. Too much feels like a history lesson and less like a discussion of events. It is not enough to say this plays is ‘Jewish’ in spirit, this needs to be displayed further. The audience is too often told rather than shown.
This is not to say there is not inherent artistic value in Paterson’s script as it’s an inventive, rule breaking, stage play that work upon the heart strings, but it doesn’t feel like one concerted piece by a long chalk. She gives awkward grins to the audience to laugh that often feel like pantomime more than theatre.
Paterson has one hell of an operatic voice though. Bursting into full opera, swinging jazz movements and quiet lullabies to Niusia. Voice over is used to a great effect with the cadence of a crackly radio creating a visceral quality to the speech of Paterson’s mother. Lighting forms a cracking colour motif, with split second changes matched well with longer fades in and out.
Still the piece feels like it needs more direction. A lightning speed once over to check what is working and what is not. Overall, it has all the makings of a classic one woman show that works when it is at its most feminist, radical and free thinking. Unfortunately, these moments are few and far between.
BOX OFFICE https://theatre503.com/whats-on/niusia/
Photography by Mayah Salter
