Samara Hersch & Lara Thoms
Please Stand
AustraliaIn 2018, the schoolgirl Harper Neilson refused to stand while singing the Australian anthem. She said that a significant percentage of people on the continent were not as free as the text so eagerly claims. This act of refusal sparked a national debate on the meaning of nationbuilding, belonging and exclusion.
With «Please Stand», Samara Hersch and Lara Thoms have created a stage for this debate. Together with three young adults and the poet Negar Rezvani – who due to travel restrictions will only be present digitally – they scrutinise how myths are built around national identity and patriotism. Why do the anthems of many states sing of freedom while excluding so many people from it? Who is «we» and who the «others»?
«Please Stand» is the latest project of the artistic duo investigating alternative stories with adolescents. In 2019, Hersch and Thoms presented «We All Know What’s Happening» at the festival and won the ZKB Audience and the ZKB Patronage Prizes. Now they are back and invite us to reflect on which songs are still worth singing while standing, sitting, kneeling or, as the writer Ocean Vuong suggests, should best be walked away from. (af)
Simple words
Many national anthems talk about freedom. But in some countries where they are sung, many people are not free. This is what this piece is about.
Artistic direction and cast
Von | Samara Hersch, Lara Thoms |
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Mit | Isaac Muller, Isha Menon, Lauren Sheree, Negar Rezvani |
Komposition | Aviva Endean |
Dramaturgische & choreografische Beratung | Amrita Hepi |
Lichtdesign | Jenny Hector |
Technik | Emily O’Brien |
Inspizienz | Stefan Grudza |
Produktionsleitung | Freya Waterson |
Übertitel | Dòra Kapusta (deutsche Übersetzung & Operator) |
Fotos | Christian Altorfer |
Production
Produktion | Samara Hersch & Lara Thoms |
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Koproduktion | Zürcher Theater Spektakel, Darebin Arts Speakeasy (Melbourne) |
Premiere | 18. August 2022, Zürcher Theater Spektakel |
Nord
Theatre, Youth & National Anthems
Co-production, Premiere
Duration
ca. 1 hrs.
Language
English
Surtitles
German
Age
12 years plus
An inclusive event
Sound inductively amplified. The performance Sat 20.8. is audio-described live
Unfortunately, this piece cannot be shown with descriptive surtitles (as indicated in the printed programme guide)
Post-performance talks
Fri 19.8.
Thu 1.9. with Die Voyeur*innen Zürich. Informationen & registration
More
Shows
shows from today- Th 18.08. 19:30 - 20:30 CHF 45.–/25.–
- Fr 19.08. 19:30 - 20:30 CHF 45.–/25.–
- Sa 20.08. 19:30 - 20:30 CHF 45.–/25.–