Angus Cerini’s ‘The Bleeding Tree’, a powerful examination of domestic violence and resistance in Australia, comes to Anglesea Memorial Hall this month.
The play, which won the Griffin Award in 2014 and the Helpmann Award for Best Play in 2016, is set in the dusty environment of rural Australia, confronting its subject matter, revenge, with a tone of dark, irreverent humour.
When a mother and her two daughters do away with the abusive man of the house they must then deal with the aftermath, namely, what to do with the body.
The story will be brought to life by Anglesea Performing Arts, under the direction of Iris Walshe-Howling, and feature the acting talents of Lina Libroaperto, Julie Fryman and Stacey Carmichael.
Ms Walsh-Howling said the tale was a challenging response to the violence that continues on in Australia and acrAward-oss the world.
“I first saw this play in Sydney and fell in love with its powerful, raw beauty and brave reversal of gender violence,” Walsh-Howling said.
“It attracted and repelled me simultaneously but the gut-wrenching imagery created by Angus Cerini’s incisive poetic use of the Australian vernacular hit me straight in the guts.
“It challenged all my values as this gruesome carnal act perpetrated by the three woman unfolded, permeating all my senses scene by scene.
“This piece of theatre is a contrapuntal response to the actual horrific family violence scenarios we are accustomed to confront each day in our media still challenging the very survival of women all over the world.”
The production also features an original and haunting score by Kirstin Honey.
‘The Bleeding Tree’ is on at the Anglesea Memorial Hall from November 10-19. For more information go to www.angleseaperformers.org.au/productions.
