IT is home to some of Australia’s most dangerous and notorious criminals but few locals concern themselves with the daily goings on at Goulburn Jail. They also rarely think about the families of the inmates or the impact their incarceration has on them.
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That is the subject of acclaimed Australian playwright Alana Valentine’s latest production, Comin’ Home Soon, which will have its world premiere at the Lieder Theatre tonight.
Last year, Valentine was commissioned by the Goulburn Regional Art Gallery (GRAG) director Jane Cush to attend the correctional centre and work with indigenous inmates, to allow them to tell their stories.
The playwright also worked closely with SHINE for Kids, an organisation which supports the children of detainees, to create an informative and moving account of the challenges facing families that are separated by the prison system.
She specialises in verbatim theatre, which is created from interviews with people that are connected to a particular topic. Her body of work, which includes Parramatta Girls and Run Rabbit Run, has been internationally celebrated.
Director Chrisjohn Hancock is at the helm tonight and says the play is a dynamic piece of original contemporary theatre.
As the company’s artistic director Hancock is always on the lookout for strong local stories. He said people loved to hear about their own town and that this one was particularly interesting given its subject matter. People seldom think about the impact incarceration has on families, even though it is an issue that affects members of our local community.
The production features a strong local cast of both indigenous and non-indigenous actors, including Alfie Walker, Matt Kay, Peter Swain, Luke Burgess, Erin Williams, Pauline J Mullen, Cara Jeffery, Muffy Hedges, Brittany, Emily, Patrick and Kirrilee Lewis, Isabella Smith, Opal and Tahlia O’Neill, Emmi Robinson and Summer Stevenson.
Comin’ Home Soon is a partnership project with the GRAG and was made possible by funding from the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, which supports sustainable cultural development in regional, rural and remote Australia to give artists and communities better access to opportunities to practise and experience the arts. Initial funding for this project was received by GRAG from Arts NSW.
GRAG is supported by the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, an initiative of the Australian, State and Territory Governments. GRAG is also supported by the Centenary of Canberra, an initiative of the ACT Government with support from the Australian Government.
Comin’ Home Soon’s premiere season will begin tonight and continue for three weeks, with performances at 8pm every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. There will also be a 2pm matinee this Sunday.
Tickets can be purchased at Town and Country Books of Goulburn in Centro or online at www.liedertheatre.com . For more information call the Lieder on 4821 5066.
