Running from 12 – 24 November 2024, La Mama’s Festival of Mother Tongues will showcase fourteen languages other than English.
For those who may feel overwhelmed without the anchor of the familiar, several of the shows use a mix of English and others use surtitles. But sometimes the joy of theatre can be simply in immersing yourself in the absolute unknown – whether that be story, culture, or language.
Acclaimed Iranian playwright Mammad Aidani is presenting a children’s show, The Golden Rooster/Khoroos Zari Pirhan Pari, based on the work of Ahmad Shamlou, one of Iran’s most famous poets.
Aidani says seeing performers on stage is a unique experience, and that something profound happens when we experience theatre in other languages.
“We are all born in a language; it is in that language that we begin to hear, listen, and say something to the world,” said Aidani.”We need to hear the sounds of other languages and willingly embrace them.”
“This is not an ethnic group talking to themselves in isolation and feeling marginalised from the mainstream of our society. It is about how all of us must experience theatre in a genuinely inclusive Australia in all theatre stages.”
The festival runs across two weeks in four iconic venues in Carlton – La Mama HQ, La Mama Courthouse, Co.AS.IT, and The Motley Bauhaus from 12 – 24 November 2024. Tune in next week for all of Wek Two’s program. For more information, visit: www.lamama.com.au for details.
Image: The Golden Rooster / Khoroos Zari Pirhan Pari – photo by Darren Gill
WEEK ONE OF LA MAMA’S FESTIVAL OF MOTHER TONGUES:
FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES – VARIOUS LOCATIONS:
The Golden Rooster/Khoroos Zari Pirhan Pari
Persian | La Mama Courthouse: 12 – 14 November
The Field of Forgotten Dreams
English and Filipino | La Mama Courthouse: 16 – 18 November
Quijocuentos
Spanish | La Mama HQ Forecourt: 16 & 23 November (free event)
LA MAMA HQ – 205 FARADAY ST CARLTON:
Bandini
Marathi with English surtitles | 14 – 16 November
Ceremony of Cultural Rings (Livestream)
Wathaurong | 15 November (7.00 – 9.00pm)
LA MAMA COURTHOUSE – 349 DRUMMOND ST CARLTON:
I’m a virtual being, take photos of me
Farsi with English surtitles | 12 – 13 November
Aswang
English and Filipino | 15 – 17 November
COASIT – 189 FARADAY ST CARLTON:
The Last Sicilian
Sicilian and English | 13 – 15 November
I topi non avevano nipoti
Italian | 17 – 19 November
THE MOTLEY BAUHAUS – 118 ELGIN ST CARLTON:
FIN-I (the utopian connection)
Spanish and English | 14 – 16 November