Samara Hersch & Lara Thoms

Please Stand

Australia

In 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

VonSamara Hersch, Lara Thoms
MitIsaac Muller, Isha Menon, Lauren Sheree, Negar Rezvani
KompositionAviva Endean
Dramaturgische & choreografische BeratungAmrita Hepi
LichtdesignJenny Hector
TechnikEmily O’Brien
InspizienzStefan Grudza
ProduktionsleitungFreya Waterson
ÜbertitelDòra Kapusta (deutsche Übersetzung & Operator)
FotosChristian Altorfer

Production

ProduktionSamara Hersch & Lara Thoms
KoproduktionZürcher Theater Spektakel, Darebin Arts Speakeasy (Melbourne)
Premiere18. August 2022, Zürcher Theater Spektakel

Nord

Site map

Theatre, Youth & National Anthems

Co-production, Premiere

Duration

ca. 1 hrs.

Language

English

Surtitles

German

Age

12 years plus

An inclusive event

accessible with wheelchair with subtitle with Audiodescription with inductive hearing loop

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

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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.– 

Schedule