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First Seen: Barren Ground by Helen Machalias
Barren Ground takes place on the Christmas Island detention centre between 2010 and the closure of the centre in 2018, and merges elements of the plot, dialogue and characters of Shakespeare’s The Tempest with media reports of the Christmas Island detention centre and first-hand accounts of the asylum seeker experience within the Australian system. Machalias’s story interprets The Tempest’s timeless themes of dislocation, forgiveness and redemption through the human stories of this high-profile chapter in Australia’s history.
Cast: Arishia Bordbar, Peter Cook, George Kanaan, William Tran
Director: Nicky Tyndale-Biscoe
Dramaturg: Granaz Moussavi
Cultural Consultant: Yasin Sarabi
Assistant to Dramaturg and Director: Marni Mount
Lend an Ear:
Street Talk: Getting to know William Tran and George Kanaan
Learn More:
Canberra Times | City News | ArtsHub | Canberra Weekly
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About First Seen
Ever wondered about the steps a writer takes to develop works for the theatre? Or how new plays and performance works are chosen for upcoming seasons?
The ever popular FIRST SEEN: new works-in-progress offers Canberra audiences the opportunity to be part of our creative process helping The Street progress performance works to production-ready stage. First Seen offers a unique insight into development and is a vital part of our planning for future years as we seek to bring original and diverse Canberra stories to the stage.
Each writer has a dedicated workshop offering time, space, support, and expertise. Canberra audiences (that's you) are given the opportunity to participate in the development process through the public showings where we open up the floor for a conversation with playwright, director, dramaturg and the actors. By sharing your thoughts with the creative teams you help assist us progress the works to production and get a sneak peek into Canberra’s ingenious artistic community.
FIRST SEEN is a major investment in new ACT work and is supported by the ACT Government through artsACT.
ONLINE | LIMITED PLACES | DURATION: 110 MINUTES
More information
THE STREET PRESENTS
FIRST SEEN - BARREN GROUND
BY HELEN MACHALIAS
FRIDAY 4 SEPTEMBER 5PM
ONLINE HOSTED VIA ZOOM* | LIMITED PLACES | DURATION: 110 MINUTES
*Details will be emailed one day prior to the showing.