Homeless Not Artless Performance Receives a Standing Ovation!
Posted Dec 18th, 2008 • Category: Big Issue News • By Anna O'BrienThe Big issue vendors and friends presented a moving showcase performance at ACMI Cinemas after the first day of football action at the Melbourne 2008 Homeless World Cup and received a standing ovation from an emotional audience.
Playing to a packed house of 170, the performance, directed by Melbourne theatre director Adriano Cortese, began with a moving and entertaining Welcome to Country by Wurrendjeri Elder Annette Xiberras.
Master of Ceremonies for the evening was popular Big Issue vendor Adam Smith, well known for his rhyming spruik outside Myer and Flagstaff Stations. Fifteen performers held the attention of the audience for 80 minutes with a combination of readings, spoken word and song, punctuated by short films featuring participants.
Pieces ranged from poignant and delicate reflections on life such as Robert William’s film Invisible, to punchy spoken word pieces that managed to be entertaining as well as devastating social critiques on the way society casually infringes the rights of its most marginalised and vulnerable citizens. Wendy Butler’s rhyming verse piece Bad Bad Man, inspired by a St Kilda police visit to the Gatwick Private Hotel where she lives, and Aaron Austin’s Smack were standouts.
At a time when homelessness and disadvantage are regular subjects for discussion and debate, it was timely to hear directly from arguably the highest profile yet still some of the most marginalised people in Melbourne. Other audience comments were:
“inspiring without being patronising”
“beautifully structured, the films in particular should get another showing”
“I shouldn’t be surprised but some of the writing was unbelievably good, let’s hope there can be an anthology”
Over 40 participants took part in the creative workshops throughout 2008 which included writing, visual arts and film. Their impact on participants has been profound in some cases and overwhelmingly positive for all concerned. The group has developed into a cohesive and supportive group of people who are demonstrating that the creative arts can be a powerful catalyst for personal wellbeing and social change.
The Big Issue and Arts Project Artistic Coordinator Mari Lourey would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in the program, especially our funders and supporters throughout the year; the City of Melbourne; Australia Council for the Arts; the Besen Foundation; the Jack Brockhoff Foundation; Wesley Melbourne Mission; La Mama Theatre; CAE and ACMI.
The creative workshops will resume in April next year. Keep an eye on this website for details.
Anna O'Brien - Coordinates the website for The Big Issue.
Email this author | All posts by Anna O'Brien
I was one of those in the audience that night and was blown away by the talent and energy from those on stage. They opened thier hearts and our minds. The show gave us all a little insight into the world of those who are often hidden. Keep up the good work and lets hope there can be more such programs run. Oh and MC Adam you are great mate, I have heard you spruking your wares around Melbourne and having ahd the chance to chat to you find you an inspiration. Thanks again.
I found the ‘homeless not art less’ show fantastic and cant wait to see all of the people who stared in this show to be featured in Hollywood productions as they all clearly are so much more interesting than some of the dried up old prunes that feature in the Hollywood feel ums of today. I mean Aaron Austin he is so the bestest, in the whole of the big issue. And deserves an Oscar I mean Nobel Prize for peace no a logie would do. and i am leaving it all up to Allan the editor of the big issue do recommend young Aaron for these awards so get snappy tom. Yours faithfully GUTTER FISH.