Dignified Anger: Stories for a Perilous Now
Thursday 27 - Saturday 29 March 7.30pm

We live in perilous times. Maybe we always have, but not on such a grand scale as now. So, what stories got us here? Stories of survival of the fittest, and that we should subjugate nature as we chant the neo-liberal mantra of never-ending growth? Are such beliefs bullshit?

Dignified Anger: Stories for a Perilous Now is the premiere collaboration of Jan 'Yarn' Wositzky and Penny Glass, performers and musicians who bring a wealth of personal and professional experience to this dramatic, moving and comical piece of storytelling theatre.

Taking its cue from the Latin American concept of La Digna Rabia - Dignified Anger - the show brings together stories of Latin American indigenous communities who defy mines and dams on their country; the wisdom of the humble bushman Bill Harney (1895-1962), who returned from WWI with a hatred of war; the centuries old tale that questions, What do women desire most, above all else? ... plus more.

These stories are sprinkled with songs & music on a 5-string banjo, harmonica, flutes, rhythm bones, and drums. The debut performance was at the 2023 Woodford Folk Festival.

“OMG this is good stuff. Class Act. Highly recommended. Go!" (Hamish Sewell, audience, Old)
“A simply stunning evening - much to ponder over, remember and examine further.” (Katie Bestevar, audience, Qld)

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.

Directorial assistance by Sue Ingleton.

Further information: janwositzky.com.au | jan@janwositzky.com.au

Tickets $30, Coolmates & Fringe $25

Presented by The Coolroom as part of Castlemaine Fringe Festival 2025.