The Events
In the wake of multiple terrorist attacks in Europe, ripping apart areas of some of the continent’s most loved cities, the themes of The Events have unfortunately never been more relevant.
Claire, played by the brilliant Catherine McClements (Wentworth, Rush, Tangle), is a mélange of identities. She is a Reverend, a feminist, a lesbian and the director of a choir. The choir is a microcosm of society – full of people from all walks of life – that is blown apart when a disaffected young man enters the hall and opens fire.
In the wake of the massacre Claire enters into a dialogue with a young man, played by Johnny Car. Johnny plays a number of parts as Claire uses him to try to understand why it happened. “Every character that I play is filtered through the lens of the boy. They’re quick shifts,” she explained.
Together Claire and Johnny explore the larger question of how we live together knowing it could all come crashing down in an instant. “There’s a contract of trust that we have as members of society, just getting around day-to-day. When that is flipped and someone breaks that contract, then everyone is completely vulnerable.”
The Events is performed with a different community choir from a different part of Sydney at each performance, who are also seeing it for the very first time. For Johnny, this means “every night is different, and each choir brings their certain unique qualities to each performance”. (CB)
May 12–Jun 12, various show times. Upstairs Theatre, Belvoir St Theatre, 25 Belvoir Street, Surry Hills. $37-$72. Tickets & info: belvoir.com.au or 02 9699 3444
BY CAITLIN BURNS
