Storylines

The opening night of the StoryLines Festival was abuzz with an energy, a certain excitement as we walked through the glass doors of NIDA, Kensington. The StoryLines Festival is a landmark cultural event of theatre, art, dance and music; a forum showcasing the stories of Sydney’s Malaysian, Islamic, Indigenous and African Refugee communities. With the bAKEHOUSE Theatre Company in association with NIDA Parade Theatres & Tamarama Rock Surfers, the night began with an upbeat and thrilling performance from Sibo Bangoura on drums. Joshua from EmilyMax silenced the audience on Chinese Zither, creating a sombre and reflective mood leading gently onto special guest, Chris Edwards-Haines, a member of the Kinchela Boys Home and Stolen Generation. His contribution of an acknowledgement of country and self-written songs on acoustic guitar touched every member of the audience deep inside, he whispered to their hearts. Following this introspective performance, Anthony Treacy entertained by spicing up the traditional art of playing the Didgeridoo by adding a light, contemporary spin as he became the segue to ‘The Saints’ contemporary dance team of entertaining hip-hop, pop-n-lock.

The exhibition itself begins with a very personal and moving display of art works from the stolen generation and refugees from detention centres, created as part of a process of rehabilitation. While many of these pieces are for sale, the very individual touch of each work seems delicate and fragile. Each story, no matter how treacherous or troublesome, is under the scrutiny and examination from strangers and yet, they move you to your core. As you process through the exhibition into the Playhouse theatre, you walk in, peer through the darkness and observe the setting for the first play performed- A Land Beyond The River. This is a surprising and very thought provoking reinvention of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer-Prize winning novel To Kill A Mockingbird. Indeed, this play is quite simple and yet effective, as the talented actors strive entertain and all the while pushing a very clear and sombre message- a social commentary of 1960’s segregation in a contemporary application. This play is easily accessible and yet borderline personal. Through lighting and use of staging and props, this play is both a mental and visual spectacular. Junction follows as the second play for the night and in quite a pleasant surprise, this two-man performance is both moving and thrilling. While both plays are presented consecutively, they address very different themes with their plot content in stark contrast. Junction manages to use minimal props, high-beam lighting and two powerful actors to create an intricate space of dilemma and tension, with only your imagination as the woven thread to hold it together. Don’t’ miss this festival from July 31st until Augst the 4th.

Reviewed by Regina Su