To be Honest – the voice of a new generation from Western Sydney

AAR Riverside Theatres To Be Honest - photo by Christopher WoeThis November, Riverside Theatres will present the captivating theatrical work, To be Honest, created in collaboration with young people from Sydney’s Western suburbs.

Crafted from a series of interviews with young residents from the Canterbury and Bankstown area who have all experienced homelessness, To Be Honest is a collection of unique, true stories. Stories of cultural displacement, racism, domestic violence and cycles of crime but ultimately stories of hope that tomorrow can be a better day.

To Be Honest is an incredible piece of verbatim theatre from celebrated playwright and director, Stefo Nantsou (Hilary Bell’s Take Two: A Comedy of Errors, Resident Director at Sydney Theatre Company 2009-2013) that shines a light on growing up in Western Sydney. Stefo and Outloud (formerly BYDS) have been creating community-focussed performance works like To Be Honest for over 15 years.

A homeless young woman stinks of Maccas fries as she tries to sleep in her car in the middle of the day. A boy gets sold by his mother for five thousand dollars. A man on bail tries to get his life back on track. A sister and her brother fight to keep each other in their lives.

Together with heartfelt storytelling, To Be Honest also features astounding original rap and melodic songs performed with a live band. This is a show jam-packed with spirit, warmth and culture told with a distinctly Western Sydney flavour.

Director: Stefo Nantsou Featuring: Aanisa Vylet, Bilal Hafda, Alaa Sukkarieh, Rangi Lemusa Tagaloa, Zainab Kadhim, Matuse Peace, Ebony Annor, Isabella Teixeira Henriques, Iman Etri, Gloria Demillo, Aleksia Taunton, Yasmin Taunton, Craig Taunton, Sidney Kisseh-Lloyd, Michael Teixeira Henriques, Jacob Araullo, David Miller Production Manager/Stage Manager: Ruth Horsfall


To Be Honest
Lennox Theatre – Riverside Theatres, Corner Church and Market Streets, Parramatta
Performances: 22 & 23 November 2019
Information and Bookings: www.riversideparramatta.com.au

Image: The Cast of To Be Honest – photo by Christopher Woe