A Geelong company has secured $100,000 from taxpayers for a movie about a Hindu god with an elephant’s head battling Nazis.
Back to Back Theatre will adapt its play Ganesh Versus the Third Reich for film after winning the company’s latest six-figure funding injection from the Victorian Government.
“Back to Back is deeply honoured to have received these vital funds from the Victorian Government to transform our critically acclaimed theatre production into a wild, new, big screen project,” said the company’s chief executive officer, Alice Nash.
The play tells the story of god Ganesh trying to take out the traditionally Hindu swastika symbol from the Nazis, including a character appearing as Adolph Hitler.
Back to Back, which uses actors with intellectual disabilities, has staged Ganesh Versus the Third Reich in 35 countries.
The actors would also “co-author” the movie script, Back to Back said in a statement announcing the funding.
The movie would mark the company’s “ambitious launch into screen-based projects” after producing six-part TV series Oddlands for the ABC earlier this year, the statement said.
Back to Back has a history of success winning government grants, including $800,000 in 2016 to fund for years of international touring.
