Dark, gothic play rises at Phoenix

GOTHIC Australian theatre will enthral audiences in Phoenix College’s auditorium from this weekend.

A cast of seven Ballarat National Theatre performers are staging Angela Betzien’s play Children of the Black Skirt.

“It’s a story that has a lot of layers,” said director Deanne Joosten. “All the ensemble play four or five characters at least, and there are a lot of stories through time which all are linked to being in an orphanage, and should be heard.

“I have never directed in the Australian gothic genre before, so I was really keen to explore this play which has such capacity to be a really incredible ensemble piece with exciting and interesting visual components.

“It’s a really good play to showcase great acting. This cast are a very talented, synergetic group, and it’s been an incredible journey and rehearsal period with them. As a director, it’s been like carving out of the best piece of wood.”

Children of the Black Skirt includes stories of diverse children, including those from the Stolen Generations.

Cast member Zerene Jaadwa is a Wutjubaluk woman who brings a “depth and breadth” to the storytelling with her own First Nations perspective.

“I love the approach of the ensemble work and having the freedom to create on the floor with others, so in the first rehearsal I gave an offer of a song, Not Anymore,” she said.

“I didn’t write this for the show, but because of the parallels and similarities with the themes of the show, and because of my connection with my father being part of the Stolen Generations, I wanted to offer it.”

Not Anymore will open and close the show, and Jaadwa will speak in her ancestors’ language, Wergia.

“It’s about the ongoing frustrations of not having our story and truth heard, and it came from a passionate place. This may have been the way things were done in our past, but it doesn’t have to be that anymore,” she said.

“I’m all about cross-cultural collaboration when we are sharing our history, so it’s great to be in a space where I’m learning from cast members and they’re learning from me.”

Children of the Black Skirt will run from this Saturday, 2 April until Saturday, 9 April. Visit bit.ly/3IHcrKs for tickets.