When a show is 'devised' - it means not only is it invented,
choreographed and written from scratch it is also still evolving in
the weeks leading up to its opening.
This means that current news items have a chance to work their way
into the show unexpectedly. Our show's subject matter explores
present attitudes to contemporary parenting.
As I write this, leading up to our final rehearsal period in
December, I find myself sifting through responses to the London
riots and the hypotheses as to why they occurred and who is truly
responsible. Obviously the answers are complex and multi-faceted
but 'bad parenting' definitely emerges as a strong topic.
Here's a brief example - "As
commentators agonised over the socio-economic significance of
British youth swarming like zombies over our cities, my neighbour
Louise, who has raised six boys, took one look at the TV news and
said wearily: "They need a smacked bottom and to be sent to bed
early". Quite so, but where were the adults to set those boundaries
and patrol them? The riots were like a video game that kept on
playing because no adult could find the remote control. They
embarrassed Britain, those 'am-I-bovvered' kids smashing up police
cars for the hell of it. The little blighters were clearly high on
excitement and cruelty. It was Lord of the Flies, dressed by
Adidas." Allison Pearson
Of course Sydney is far away from the heated atmosphere of London
but I can't help but sense, more and more, that 'contemporary
parenting' is being put under the spotlight like never before. Mind
you there's always this quote from Socrates to put things back into
an age old perspective!
The children now love luxury; they
have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for
elders and love chatter in place of exercise. They no longer rise
when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents and
tyrannise their teachers." AUTHOR: Socrates (469-399
B.C.)
It's all grist for the creative mill! We're also keenly
anticipating the first TV screening of The Slapas Never Did Me Any Harmwas
initially inspired by the book's subject matter - it's in the
air!
Never Did Me Any
Harm, Wharf 1, 6 January - 12 February, 2012.