Exploring issues of belonging, history, and national identity, Bowerbird Theatre presents a return season of Deceptive Threads at fortyfivedownstairs from 10 November 2016.
Deceptive Threads tells the extraordinary true stories of performer David Joseph’s grandfathers – one a Tivoli singer turned ASIO spymaster who vetted unwanted arrivals, the other an early Lebanese immigrant who had to lie about his birthplace to gain Australian naturalisation.
How do you reconcile a family history littered with secrets? In this award-winning show, hidden narratives unravel the threads of our nation’s racist past, and their connection to current events. Using a seamless combination of sophisticated multimedia, masterful stagecraft and rhythmically charged storytelling, Deceptive Threads is a solo production that theatrically illuminates the personal in the political.
“I really think that some of our greatest lessons come from the past, that in our history lies the key to our future, both on personal and national levels,” said Creator and performer, David Joseph. My grandfathers’ stories are both unique and universal and reveal a lot about our national character.”
“I hope audiences will think about their own families and the secrets that lie therein. Maybe by shining a light on those hidden narratives we can help heal wrongs of the past.”
“This is an extraordinary piece of theatre and these are the stories that we need to hear as Australians.” – Melbourne Observer
Deviser / Performer: David Joseph Deviser / Director: Karen Berger Set Design: David Murphy Lighting Design: Bronwyn Pringle Projections: Zoe Scoglio, Heesham Tawfeeqi
Deceptive Threads
fortyfivedownstairs, 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Season: 10 – 20 November 2016 (preview: 9 November)
Bookings: www.fortyfivedownstairs.com
For more information, visit: www.bowerbirdtheatre.com for details.
Image: David Joseph features in Deceptive Threads – photo by Ponch Hawkes