Don’t Look Away Theatre and Blancmange Productions will present A Property of the Clan in the newly created Kings Cross theatre space, Blood Moon Theatre from 29 September to 17 October 2015.
A disturbing tale inspired by real events, A Property of the Clan tells the story of the sexual assault and murder of a 14-year-old girl at a party. It examines a culture of boys and girls lost in the misrepresentation of one another, the ugliness of victim blaming and the emotional and social effects the unexpected death of a peer has on young people.
The story follows a small group of teens including Jared who witnessed the crime, his girlfriend Rachel and best friend Ricko, and the victim’s best friend Jade. Torn apart by the tragic event, the group delves into why it happened, who is responsible and if justice will be served.
A key piece of writing for Australian youth in the 90s, A Property of the Clan is a powerful and emotionally candid examination into peer pressure by one of Australia’s pre-eminent playwrights, Nick Enright. In 1997, the play was adapted into the Australian drama thriller film, Blackrock.
The production holds contemporary relevance as director Phillip Rouse explains, “In a culture of rising violence against women, A Property of the Clan deftly examines the psychology of victim blaming and rests responsibility of action firmly on the boys and men of the world.”
In a bold staging concept, A Property of the Clan will see the performers both create and destroy the set during the show. On a Perspex backdrop, the performers will paint their childhood memories before tearing it down at the end, symbolising the loss of innocence experienced from the terrible crime.
Featuring some of the freshest talent of the Sydney independent theatre scene, the production includes Sydney Theatre Awards 2014 winner George Banders (All’s Well that Ends Well, Romeo & Juliet), Megan Drury (Ruben Guthrie, Macquarie, Closer), Jack Starkey-Gill (Bell Shakespeare’s Players’ Company) and Samantha Young (Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, Space Cats).
A Property of the Clan
Blood Moon Theatre, 24 Bayswater Rd, Kings Cross (within The World Bar)
Season: 30 September – 17 October 2015 (preview: 29 September)
Bookings: www.eventbrite.com.au
Image: A Property of the Clan