On Sunday I attended one of the most emotional and thought provoking performance pieces I have ever seen..
"Honour Bound", a work created by Nigel Jamieson and choreographed by Gary Stewart is a show that MUST be seen by every Australian.. In fact every person, regardless of nationality.
The show is about David Hicks, the Australian who has now been locked up for years in Guantanamo Bay for alleged terrorism charges. He has been the centre of much controversy in this country.
The performance takes us through just a glimpse of his life, confined in small lockups and suffering abuse.
Video footage and photos are projected onto the stage, set up as a large metal mesh block.
Even with the aerial acrobatics with some stunningly timed dancing against the multimedia, the show keeps to some quite heart-felt issues...
The footage of his family talking about David, puts a tear to your eye. Whether he is a terrorist or not, the compassion you feel for his family becomes immense.
Then there is the reminder about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, of which Australia is a signatory. The piece asks why this standard of human rights is not being upheld for one of our nationals in the custody of one of our "allies".
The piece is not for the faint-hearted. You will not walk away with a spring in your step, but I promise you that you will walk away feeling deep emotion. Isn't that what theatre should be like? (At least from time to time...)
I should also mention that the dancers are amazing. To project isolation and restriction is a contradicting challenge in itself, let alone to touch on such complex and emotional subject matter in addition. To represent Hicks' humiliation and vulnerability, the dancers even strip naked, producing a confronting scene, which had some people in tears.. Hats off to these amazing performers.
I was lucky enough to also attend a post performance question and answer session held with Major Michael Mori - US Defence Counsel for David Hicks.
It was fascinating to hear his answers - such a clear, concise, fair and honest man. On the following day, he appeared on ENOUGH ROPE, hosted by Andrew Denton on ABC. Click here to read a transcript of that interview..
If you are to watch just one show this year, this should be it!
I'm very serious...
SEASON
Tuesday 1 August - Sunday 3 September
PRICES
Adult - $53
*Concession - $43
*Concessions apply to Australian Pensioners / Full time Students / Unemployed / Children Under 18.
Tickets from the Sydney Opera House
Phone Bookings on (02) 9250 7777
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