FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20th, 2002
PuSh International Performance Series
Media Contact
Ellie O'Day
O'Day Productions
604.731.3339
ellie@oday.org
Rumble Productions & Touchstone Theatre present
SHADOWS (Australia)
written and performed by William Yang
with composer and musician Colin Offord
produced by Performing Lines
January 28 to February 1, 2003 8:00 pm
Roundhouse Community Centre, 181 Roundhouse Mews
Post-performance artist talk Wednesday, January 29
Exhibition of William Yang's photography
January 10 to February 9 at Centre A
849 Homer Street – Wed-Sat: 11–6; Sun 12-5.
Single tickets $20 / $10
PuSh series passes $45
Ticketmaster: 604.280.4444
"Shadows is the kind of art that will leave haunting and beautiful images in your mind for days." – The West Australian
William Yang is a storyteller whose powerful images and ideas have moved audiences all over the world.
He is a third-generation Chinese-Australian, who grew up in rural northern Australia, and first was recognized for his photography of Sydney's demi-monde of the late-70s, chronicling Sydney's gay pride movement. This one-time architecture student turned to independent theatre practice in his college years, writing several plays before turning to his hand to the more lucrative photography of his colleagues' headshots.
Out of this grew a career as an exhibiting photographer, and later his monologues with photos. Yang's first performance pieces (Sadness and The North) explored his Chinese background and the gay community of Sydney. Shadows was commissioned by the Sydney and Adelaide Festivals, to create a piece on the theme of reconciliation. One of the communities he made a return visit to was the aboriginal community of Enngonnia. Yang also discovered, while working on the piece, that the Germans living in Australia were persecuted and interned during the World Wars.
Yang's performing style is understated, leaving room for the images to imbue the story with their humanity, and for the original instrumental and vocal music of Colin Offord. "It is really storytelling with images. And it is definitely art," says Yang. "I am the informing artist — that's the difference between my piece and journalism. I am in it as a character."
Shadows was co-commissioned by the Sydney Festival, the Adelaide Festival and the Perth International Arts Festival.
Rumble Productions and Touchstone Theatre gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Department of Canadian Heritage, Canada Council for the Arts, British Columbia Arts Council, City of Vancouver – Office of Cultural Affairs, Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, Antennae du Québec à Vancouver, New South Wales Ministry for the Arts, The Printing House, Tom Lee Music, Georgian Court Hotel, Ramada Inn and Suites, Radio Canada, L’express pacifique and Georgia Straight.
PuSh is part of a Canadian network of presenters. The PuSh series is presented in partnership with High Performance Rodeo (Calgary), Six Stages Festival (Toronto) and Usine C (Montreal).
High Performance Rodeo (Calgary)
http://www.oyr.org/
Six Stages Festival (Toronto)
http://www.sixstages.com/toronto2003/intro.html
Usine C (Montreal)
http://www.rideau-inc.qc.ca/diffuse/fiche/USINEC.htm