Political Children

With access to instant news and live discussion thanks to modern technology, teenagers and young adults today are very aware and engaged with current affairs. Political Children, a verbatim play directed by Felicity Nicol and featuring five young performers from the Inner West Youth Theatre, acknowledges this is a cogent way.

Using actual extracts from Hansard Parliamentary transcripts, news items and social media comments, Nicol has created a theatre piece that allows the young actors to present the views of politicians, media, the general public and their peers in a way that reflects their own message.

Themed around diversity and acceptance, the material used by Nicol and the cast includes comments and document excerpts relating to the Safe Schools program and the All Of Us resource. The application of this material is inventive and theatrical. Some is directly recited; some re-enacted; some has been formulated into a soap opera.

“We’ve also got something like a game show, ‘Spot The Fake News’ which we try and get audience members involved in. They get to try and choose – out of all the headlines that have happened around Safe Schools – which ones are real [and] which ones are fake,” laughed Nicol.

Though they use humour, Nicol and the cast are very aware of the seriousness of their message. Two of the five actors directly identify with the LGBTIQ community, while the other three are strong supporters. One member has personally suffered bullying and public humiliation.

The material may touch some raw nerves, so an advisory notice has been included on the tickets and at the front of the theatre. It was previously performed at Ashfield Council Chambers and there was no adverse feedback of any kind. Parents and teachers have approved, even though “some of the material is very graphic and explicit and even horrific” Nicol explained.

This season has been included in the Mardi Gras Festival program and supported by the Australian Theatre for Young People who are providing the performance space. (RB)

Mar 1–3, 7pm + Fri at 1pm. Australian Theatre for Young People, Pier 4/5 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay. $25. Tickets & info: www.atyp.com.au 

BY RITA BRATOVICH