The Chosen Vessel

By Dylan Van Den Berg

After the short story by Barbara Baynton

I thought about trickin’ him - about given’ him an idea of

where I might be - usin’ my voice.

A young Aboriginal woman, made a mother against her will lives in the bush, surrounded by Country she knows and respects, even if she’s not quite sure how she came to be there. One day a white Swagman arrives, asking for food and water, and her fears about the ‘white’ ghosts who occupy the land begin to take hold.

From award-winning Palawa playwright Dylan Van Den Berg (Milk, Whitefella Yella Tree) fast building a career as one of Australia’s most significant playwrights, comes this bold new adaptation of Barbara Baynton’s The Chosen Vessel. In this alternate version of Baynton’s Australian classic story, we’re asked to reflect on what we chose to see – and what we wilfully ignore.

Kalkadoon woman Abbie-lee Lewis directs this gothic horror featuring outstanding actors Meriam/Badulaig woman Laila Thaker and Craig Alexander.

“writes with a voice that demands to be heard and a spirit that compels engagement.“ - Peter Wilkins, Canberra Times

Featuring
Laila Thaker
Craig Alexander

Director: Abbie-lee Lewis

Set Designer: Angie Matsinos
Costume Designer: Leah Ridley
Sound Designer: Kyle Sheedy
Lighting Designer: Nathan Sciberras

A Street Produced Professional Theatre Production

Content: Mature Themes

Street Two | Unreserved | Duration 65 Minutes
Click here for information on accessibility.

Watch: Street Talk Dylan Van Den Berg in Conversation

Lend an Ear: Living Arts Canberra

Wed 13 August 6:30pm performance followed by a post-show Q&A

A special performance where the audience gets to ask cast and crew questions after the show.

This is your chance to gain deeper insight into the work, ask questions about the artistic process, hear behind-the-scenes anecdotes and more with the cast and creative team. The post-show Q&A is only available to ticketholders of that performance and are included in the ticket price. These evenings are always very popular, so make sure you book in early!

Claiming Genre: Towards An Aboriginal Gothic
Pre-show forum 8 August 6pm

Forum with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers including Dr Lisa Fuller (Murri) and Dr Paul Collis (Barkandji) hosted by Palawa playwright Dylan Van Den Berg in partnership with the University of Canberra.
How do First Nations writers commandeer genre on the page and on the stage? How can genre serve as a potent framework for speaking back to the colonial situation? Noted Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers discuss their work, their relationship to genre and the emergence of an Aboriginal Gothic.

This is a free event, but reservations are essential. Please RSVP with name and telephone number via rsvp@thestreet.org.au
More info here