Following performances across the UK and Europe, Deborah Pearson’s acclaimed live documentary History History History will have its Australian premiere at the Brisbane Festival, before an exclusive season at The SUBSTATION as part of Melbourne Fringe.
On 23 October 1956, Hungarians rose up against the Soviets and fought troops on the streets, from their homes, and from their revolutionary headquarters at the Corvin Cinema. The uprising led to one of the largest refugee crises of the twentieth century.
With dramaturgy by Daniel Kitson, History History History features in a poignant and funny act of remembering, theatre-maker Deborah Pearson loosely ‘translating’ the film that was meant to be screened at the cinema that night – a long-forgotten football comedy.
The performance, which runs the length of the film, includes interviews with the exiled screenwriter and people involved with the 1956 film. It explores the connect and disconnect between the personal and the political, reflecting on immigration, suppression and our personal links with history. In its retelling, Pearson unlocks a surprisingly personal story.
Co-founder of Edinburgh’s purveyors of risk taking and risk chasing Forest Fringe, Pearson’s work has toured to four continents and fifteen countries and has been translated into five languages. The Canadian born, UK based live artist and playwright has won awards for both her solo practice and her work with UK artist collective Forest. Pearson has a PhD in narrative in contemporary performance from Royal Holloway – where she was a Reid Scholar, and recently published The Future Show with Oberon books.
History History History
Theatre Republic – The Loft, QUT Creative Industries, Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove
Season continues to 16 September 2017
Information and Bookings: www.brisbanefestival.com.au
The Substation, 1 Market Street, Newport
Season: 20 – 23 September 2017
Information and Bookings: www.thesubstation.org.au
Image: Deborah Pearson in History History History – photo by Paul Blakemore