We All Know What’s Happening
Welcome to a tropical island full of palm trees, phosphate mines, coconut water and kids.
Set against a backdrop of handmade costumes and colonialism, this is an absurd, true story about Leonardo da Vinci, seagull shit, the Pacific and children in detention.
Part school musical, part history lesson and part political probe, We All Know What’s Happening sees people too young to vote, confront power, complacency, children’s rights and the future.
This neo-colonial history lesson by Samara Hersch, Lara Thoms and a cast of child activists is a response to ongoing fraught global relationships with the island of Nauru and attempts to give voice to those censored from the conversation.
Creative Team
Original Concept: Samara Hersch
Co-created by: Samara Hersch & Lara Thoms
Performed and created with: Theo Boltman, Casper Plum, Allegra Di Lallo, Lazar Feldman, Finn Owen, Tove Due and Venu Elisaia ( past cast members: Bridie Noonan and Eve Nixon,)
Sound design and composition: Marco Cher- Gibard
Pianist/Collaborator: Grace Ferguson
Lighting Design: Jen Hector
Design: Romanie Harper with Lara Thoms
Project Co-ordinator & Youth Support: Cassandra Fumi ( Past: Prue Clark)
Stage Manager: Cassandra Fumi ( Past: Olivia Bishop)
Production Manager: Katie Sfetkidis
Q&A Moderator: Evelyn Tadros
Q&A Panellists: Julian Burnside and Jason Ross alongside Creators and Performers of the show
Supported by: Arts House Culture Lab, Creative Victoria and Save the Children.
Commissioned and Presented by: Arts House, North Melbourne 2017
Performance History: Campbelltown Arts Centre October 2018 and Vitalstatistix, Adelaide 2019, Noorderzon Festival, Groningen 2019, Theater Spektakle, Zurich 2019.
We All Know What‘s Happening won the 2018 Green Room Award for Best Contemporary and Experimental Performance and the Swiss ZKB Patronage prize and People’s Choice Award as part of Theatre Spektakle, Zurich 2019
” The jury’s choice recognises the extraordinary complexity of Samara Hersch’s and Lara Thoms’ work, but it also is a gesture in support of the collective effort of young artists and activists. Statement of the Jury: ZKB Patronage Prize 2019
“Passionate and political, affecting and entertaining, We All Know What’s Happening throws down the gauntlet to the adults in the audience, confronting and exposing inhumanity through the tragicomic lens of naive art.” Cameron Woodhead, Sydney Morning Herald.
” Samara Hersch and Lara Thoms have, along with the cast, written a show that demonstrates balance and restraint.” David Collins Arts Review.
” Samara Hersch and Lara Thoms should be commended for such a brave and unsettling image. ” Toorak Times.
” A compelling and touching political work.” Julian Burnside AO, QC.
