Perth Voice Interactive

AMIDST the flurry of patriotic flag waving in the lead up to the centenary of the Great War, a local theatre company is taking a more critical look at the conflict.

The WA Young Theatre Co’s play The Dreaming Hill tells the tale of Australian soldiers on the Greek Isle of Lemnos. Writer Hellie Turner’s play takes place the night before the dawn landing at Gallipoli, their innocent bravado wrestling with fear as the sunrise edges closer.

Director Renato Fabretti says sometimes the bravery of individual soldiers gets conflated with war, and by extension the war gets seen as a good thing.

“It’s tricky in Australia, because for us it’s a defining moment in our identity,” he says.

“The danger is that turns into a positive view of war.”

Company manager James Nerva says “this is a commemoration of the people, not a celebration of the war”.
The troupe’s federal MP Alannah MacTiernan has been lobbying for funding for the project, fearing a critical look at the war is being drowned out by the celebratory atmosphere.

The company has now secured a $15,000 grant, meaning pre-production can begin in earnest. Mr Nerva says they’ll be searching out actors from Perth and Albany (Southern Edge Arts is copresenting), choosing people of a similar age to the young troops. They’re planning to perform the play in both cities in April next year, marking 100 years since the Gallipoli landing.

by DAVID BELL