[csaa-forum] children overboard performance, sydney

[Melissa Gregg]

version 1.0   in association with Dept of Performance Studies, Sydney
University presents

CMI (A Certain Maritime Incident) A performance devised from the "Children
Overboard" Inquiry transcript  at Performance Space 26 Mar ­ 11 Apr


"You told the truth; you stood by your desire to tell the truth. That is
right, isn't it?"
(Senator Faulkner, CMI inquiry transcript p1544)

"The TV news deadline has passed... You can turn away from your theatrics."
(Sen Brandis, p1582)

When it comes to theatre, there¹s nothing quite like a Senate inquiry.  And
when it comes to politics, there¹s no-one else making theatre like version
1.0, one of the most exciting new companies in Sydney­ hailed as "a
refreshing new vision in performance" (RealTime), and "challenging and
hilarious" (Sydney Star Observer).
Put the two together and you have A Certain Maritime Incident (CMI) ­ an
edgy new performance devised from the transcripts of the Senate Select
Committee inquiry into the "children overboard" scandal.
But, says producer David Williams, "CMI is not verbatim theatre, nor a dry
rendering of politician talk.  And it¹s certainly not the full 2,200 pages!
This is a story of six people wrestling with their wills, their vocabulary,
their politics and each other. It¹s an exploration of fundamental questions
at the intersection between the personal and the political ­ as much about
Australia¹s political process as about the our response to asylum seekers."
The inquiry, says Williams, aimed not to uncover the truth about the
misleading photos of children in the sea, but simply to appear to be doing
so ­ stalling for time, going through the motions, while an opportunity to
snatch an election was grasped.  "In CMI we seek exposure:  to read between
the lines, to air the thoughts left in the dark, to seek the faces behind
the masks, to hear the questions never said aloud.  What are the stories we
tell ourselves about ourselves through this Inquiry?  This Inquiry talks the
talk that numbs the intellect and paralyses the body's capacity for outrage.
CMI is a public act of outrage."
So while the text is drawn from the procedural talk of politicians, the six
performers enact a demanding movement score to find a bodily, visceral
outrage.  There are darkly comic moments, as the mood shifts from Kafka to
slapstick, courtroom drama to seduction scenes, parables to office parties.
Papers are tabled and shredded.  Water is continually spilt and quickly
"cleaned up".  A performer is excised from the table.  Nothing is stableŠ
the furniture is all on wheels and just won¹t stay still.  They¹re also
aided and abetted by live video and lie detection software, displaying
continually updated reports on witnesses¹ believability.
"version 1.0 seeks to delve into the sweaty armpits of the Australian body
corporate, interrogating ethics, identity, faith, history, and memory," says
Williams.  Previous shows include The second Last Supper (Easter 2001), "a
wickedly funny, sometimes searingŠ reverie on universal corporatisation"
(RealTime, Feb 2004) & Questions to Ask Yourself in the Face of Others
(2003).  
version 1.0 claims to have seven senses of humour, and to test the limits of
bodies and of language, making performance that is edgy yet accessible,
innovative but entertaining.  If you don¹t trust the lie detection software
to test their claims, then judge for yourself ­ see their show at
Performance Space (March 26 to April 11, bookings 9698 7235).  Then we¹ll
know who are the biggest liars ­ performers or politicians.

ARTISTS    PERFORMER/DEVISERS  Danielle Antaki, Stephen Klinder, Nikki
Heywood, Deborah Pollard, Christopher Ryan & David Williams   PRODUCER David
Williams   DRAMATURGY Paul Dwyer  LIGHTING Simon Wise  VIDEO & DESIGN Samuel
James  SOUND Jason Sweeney                          LIE DETECTION SOFTWARE
Kelli McCluskey & Steve Bull (pvi collective, Perth)
SEASON    March 26 ­ April 11 (Wed ­ Sat 8pm, Sun  5pm)    ARTIST TALK Wed
31st March, 5pm (FREE)
VENUE    Performance Space, 199 Cleveland St, Redfern.  (5 min to Central ­
Devonshire St Exit)
TICKETS    $20/12 (Preview Thu 25th All $10)  Bkgs 9698 7235 or
boxoffice at performancespace.com.au
MEDIA INFO    Harley Stumm  0411 330 654  or  harley_stumm at optusnet.com.au