The Events
Written by David Greig
Directed by Clare Watson
The Events follows a community’s search for compassion, peace and understanding in the wake of unthinkable violence. Delving into faith, politics, and reason, this brilliantly inventive piece asks big questions: how far can forgiveness stretch in the face of atrocity; how can we live together knowing that it can all come apart in an instant? Featuring a different local choir for each performance, The Events presents a meaningful community engagement opportunity.
Production photography by Lisa Tomasetti
"A superb and unique examination of one victim’s self-destructive desire to understand the essence of violence."
When Claire, a priest, survives a massacre she sets out on a quest to answer the most difficult question of all -‘why?’ It’s a journey that takes her to the edge of reason, science, politics and faith.
Award-winning Scottish playwright David Greig’s The Events follows a community’s search for compassion, peace and understanding in the wake of unthinkable violence. This play asks big questions: how far can forgiveness stretch in the face of atrocity; how can we live together knowing that it can all come apart in an instant?
Delving into faith, politics, and reason, this brilliantly inventive piece showcases a different local community choir at each performance. Featuring soaring choral music, The Events tells of tragedy, obsession and our destructive desire to fathom the unfathomable.
The sleeper hit of the 2013 Edinburgh Festival and a 2016 Helpmann Award nominated show, this outstanding Australian production has involved over 50 community choirs in performances from town halls to festival centres.
Community choirs learn the material in the months leading up to the performance and work with the show’s Musical Director to perform onstage for the whole performance each night.
reviews
"One of the highlights of the 2016 Sydney Festival"
Jason Blake, Sydney Morning Herald full review
“The Events is tight and it is edgy […] The layers of the story are skilfully revealed”
Steve Horne, InDaily full review
“An honest examination of human survival”
Alana Kaye, Theatre Now full review
Previous Tour
June & July, 2018
CREDITS
Writer David Greig
Composer John Browne
Director Clare Watson
Set & Lighting Designer Geoff Cobham
Musical Director Carol Young
Stage Manager Keiren Smith
Assistant Stage Manager Jacinta Wajon
Touring Production Manager & Lighting Realiser Ren Kenward
CAST
Catherine McClements as Claire
Johnny Carr as The Boy
Carol Young as The Pianist
Plus a local community choir (see presenter website for details)
If you are interested in touring get in contact!
Arts on Tour
02 8038 1880
touring@artsontour.com.au
Arts on Tour is based in Redfern NSW and we respectfully acknowledge the Gadigal people as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the unceded land on which we work.
As we tour artists and productions across these vast lands, we pay our respect to all First Nations Elders, past, present and future.
We celebrate their continuing connection and contribution to culture, country and community, and thank all First Nations peoples for their wisdom in caring for the land, the sky, the rivers and the sea.