For Bunbury theatre performer Ian Michael, his new show provides the opportunity to speak from the heart and connect with the land.
Michael and production house She Said Theatre will bring his award-winning play, HART, to the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre for one performance from 7.30pm on Thursday, May 3.
The show is part of Michael’s week-long residency program in Bunbury.
“Bunbury is home for me, so I get to come home and perform in the same place I got to perform in as a kid,” Michael said.
“I am really excited to be performing back home and my family gets to come and see the show.”
Michael’s show has wowed audiences and sold out Fringe Festival venues in Melbourne, Adelaide and New Zealand.
His latest effort uses alternative histories and forgotten stories to highlight the unheard voices in Australia.
The show views the history of the Stolen Generation from the perspectives of four Noongar men.
Michael said he wanted the show to discuss Indigenous history in-depth.
He said the show portrayed stories about “family, resilience, loss, and hope”.
“I have always done shows within a cast before, and so this is the first solo show I have ever done,” he said.
“The show is verbatim, so it’s all taken word-for-word from interviews I have done with people from the Stolen Generation.
“The show is about helping people to understand. It’s also about starting a conversation about the history of this country.”
Michael will be hosting a series of interactive workshops at schools around Bunbury from Monday, April 30.
Former Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre executive director Sharon Custers said Michael’s show should not be missed.
“Ian Michael is an incredibly talented writer, director and actor. HART, is one of the most powerful pieces of theatre you may ever see, it will deeply move you,” she said.
“We are extremely privileged that Ian has chosen to do a week long residency in Bunbury, not just a couple of shows.
“He will spend an entire week here, working with young people to teach them about the stories of the stolen generation and help them tell their own stories.”
Schools are able to contact the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre’s Education team to register their interest in Michael’s workshops.
Those looking to buy tickets for HART can visit bunburyentertainment.com or call 1300 661272.
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