Winner of four international awards, Gasworks Arts Park is thrilled to bring Labels to Melbourne in an international exclusive from 18 – 26 October 2017. Using humour and honesty, Labels offers a human story from multicultural Britain that is increasingly relevant today. Expect paper planes, racist romances and lots of sticky labels!
Worklight Theatre’s multi-award winning show is a funny, moving and honest story about mixed heritage and immigration, based on the experiences of writer and performer Joe Sellman-Leava. Charting a childhood in the 90’s, shifting political landscapes and global refugee crisis, the show uses comedy, storytelling and spoken word.
Labels won a Scotsman Fringe First Award and Holden Street Theatre’s Edinburgh Award in 2015, Best Theatre at Adelaide Fringe 2016, The Graham Smith Peace Foundation Award and was shortlisted for Amnesty International’s Freedom of Expression Award. The content of the show has been updated in response to rapidly changing world events including a worsening refugee crisis, the EU referendum and the presidency of Donald Trump.
Labels was originally inspired by a racism and equality workshop, led by activist and Oscar-winning writer and actor Emma Thompson, at Exeter University in 2009. Following a redevelopment, Labels premiered at Edinburgh Fringe Festival in the wake of an ongoing humanitarian crisis and fierce debates around identity, migration and displacement. On reading the show’s script, Thompson – a vocal human rights campaigner – said “What a terrific piece. I love it. Simple, powerful, important and funny!”
“We always wanted Labels to be accessible to anyone, using honesty and humour as tools to engage our audiences, says writer and performer Joe Sellman-Leava. “Although not everyone has experienced racism, I think everyone has experienced labelling in some way. It’s been both sad and scary to see Labels become increasingly relevant as we’ve toured it around the world.”
Director: Katharina Reinthaller Writer and Performer: Joe Sellman-Leava
Labels
Studio Theatre – Gasworks Arts Park, 21 Graham Street, Albert Park
Season: 18 – 26 October 2017
Information and Bookings: www.gasworks.org.au
Image: Joe Sellman-Leava features in Labels (supplied)