PRODUCTION NOTES :

A performance about freedom, democracy and the War on Iraq

With clever subversive wit, The Wages of Spin provokes a closer examination of the issues at the core of the controversy surrounding the “intelligence” reports that were the deciding factor in Australia’s involvement in the war in Iraq. This is political theatre version 1.0 style - playful, surreal, visceral and tragic, with no easy answers. While the production’s subject is serious, the treatment is often hilarious. version 1.0 have again produced a show that successfully subverts, whilst never ceasing to entertain.

Audiences can expect to be shocked and horrified at the reality of war and the manipulation of truth, and in the very next moment, laughing at the irony of the media’s obsession with pop star Delta Goodrem’s ‘suffering’ and ‘trauma’ caused by her relationship ‘crisis’. The production’s meticulously researched script re-examines Senate Committee proceedings, often cheekily using the Hansard transcript verbatim as a theatrical device that leaves audiences asking: What should we believe? Further provoking the audience to question the authenticity of information, and the ‘word’ of those in power, is the productions clever re-contextualization of official public documents, television interviews and even raves from columnists and webloggers. The Wages of Spin is designed to engage the audience critically with the issues and ask: “Does it matter that we went to war on a lie?”

Performance History
20 May – 5 June, 2005 Performance Space, Sydney
20-30 July, 2005 The Street Theatre, Canberra

National Tour 2006 with Mobile States, Produced by Performing Liness

PRODUCTION CREDITS :

Performer / Devisors (Premiere season 2005):
Stephen Klinder, Deborah Pollard & David Williams

Performer / Devisors (Mobile States tour 2006):
Stephen Klinder, Kym Vercoe, and David Williams

Dramaturgy:
Paul Dwyer

Outside Eye:
Yana Taylor

Lighting/Production:
Simon Wise

Video Artist:
Sean Bacon

Sound Artist:
Gail Priest

Producer:
Harley Stumm (Performing Lines)

Financial Administration:
Simon Wellington (Urban Theatre Projects)

Performing Crew (Premiere season 2005):
Katy Green, Jane Grimly, Paul Morrison, Jacob Patterson (UWS secondments), Lara Lightfoot (Canberra Youth Theatre secondment)

Performing Crew (Mobile States tour 2006):
Katy Green, Dan Pardy, and Ingrid Sivertsen

Canberra operators (2005):
Kaoru Alfonso (lighting) and Alex White (sound)

Publicity:
Harley Stumm (Sydney), Canberra Arts Marketing (Canberra)