DIGNIFIED ANGER: Stories for a Perilous Now

DIGNIFIED ANGER: STORIES FOR A PERILOUS NOW

JAN ‘YARN’ WOSITZKY & PENNY GLASS

A humorous, moving, passionate and theatrical storytelling/music show from two fabulous performers.

In these perilous and chaotic times, some long-established dangerous ideas abound: such as ‘survival of the fittest’, that we ‘humans should dominate nature’, and that ‘men are superior to women’. So, have we, the brilliant human race, blown it?

In Dignified Anger: Stories for a Perilous Now Jan ‘Yarn’ Wositzky and Penny Glass have created a poignant and uplifting affirmation of humanity. Taking its cue from the Latin American concept of 'la digna rabia' - dignified anger - the show brings to life women who led Central American indigenous communities to defy mines and dams on their country (performed in Spanish and English); the wisdom of the bushman and yarn spinner, Bill Harney, who returned from WWI with a hatred of war; the 14th century tale of ‘What do women desire most, above all else’ - the answer may surprise! – and the unacknowledged history of the Aboriginal man on Australia’s two-dollar coin.

All seamlessly linked with personal recollections of growing up in migrant families, coming to terms with our indigenous-colonial history, and … a love story, with music on 5-string banjo, quena, flute, harmonica, bodhran and bones. Travelling through tough times to a hopeful finale, Dignified Anger: Stories for a Perilous Now is the ancient art of storytelling for the contemporary stage.

“OMG this is good stuff. Class act. Highly recommended. Go!” (Hamish Sewell, Qld)

“A simply stunning evening – much to ponder over, remember and examine further. Thank you.” (Katie Bestevaar, Qld)

“Moving the heart through laughter, tears, honesty – love – so fantastic.” (Sulja, Qld)

“A moving and thought-provoking storytelling adventure.” (Marg Bowman, Queenscliff, Vic)

INFO

Date/time: Saturday 9 May, 7:00pm

Duration: 120 min (with interval)

Tickets: Adult $35, Concession $30 (plus non-refundable booking fee)

Bistro opening hours - Dinner: 5:30pm to 8:00pm (bookings recommended)

BIOS

Jan ‘Yarn’ Wositzky OAM grew up listening to stories of his Czech-Scots family – tales of dangerous escapes in post-WW2 Europe and sailing to Australia. He co-founded the much-loved band, The Bushwackers – and so to a career of storytelling and music, in theatre, radio and TV, oral history books with Aboriginal people ‘up north’ and many Australian history shows in schools.

Penny Glass grew up in an Australian-Polish-Jewish family – hearing stories of displacement and a community disappeared by the Holocaust. After studying drama at the VCA, she worked in community and political theatre in Australia, and in Chile where she worked with theatre in prisons and co-founded cultural activist collective Colectivo Sustento. She currently teaches Drama for Social Action at Griffith University