Up the Ladder

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Event Up the Ladder
Venue Repertory Theatre Kaze, Tokyo, Japan
Umbrella Event Ancient Future Japan 2003
First Date 12 November 2003
Last Date 16 November 2003
Dates Estimated No
Status Professional
World Premiere No
Description Up the Ladder, a play evoking the blood and sweat, the smell of the sawdust, and the momentary fame of young Aboriginal men in the boxing tents of post-war Australia, will be performed in Tokyo for the first time as part of Ancient Future - Australian Arts Festival Japan 2003. The play will be staged by the Rakutendan Theater Company from November 12-16 at the Repertoire Theater Kaze.

Rakutendan Theater Company has made a name for itself performing, in Japanese, cutting edge and controversial indigenous theatre from around the world. Previous Australian presentations have included Stolen, Seven Stages of Grieving, and Silent Partner.

Up the Ladder, written by award winning Aboriginal playwright Roger Bennett, follows an Aboriginal man's journey from the rough and tumble fights of boxing tents of the 1940s and 50s to a career as a professional and champion boxer. The play evokes the carnival atmosphere of boxing tents while subtly reminding us of the racism that underpinned the sport.

Roger Bennett overcame a difficult youth to write some of Australia's best regarded indigenous plays including the Australian classic, Funerals and Circuses.

As part of Ancient Future - Australian Arts Festival Japan 2003, and the second stage in the exchange between Wesley Enoch (Ilbijerri Theatre Cooperative) and Yoshio Wada (Rakutendan), Indigenous Australian actor/dancer Kirk Page will perform together with the Japanese Rakutendan actors. In addition, a post-performance talk will be held on Satuday 15 November (after the 6:30pm show) to deepen Japanese audiences' appreciation of contemporary Indigenous theatre. Participants include Directors Yoshio Wada, Wesley Enoch, Translator Keiji Sawada, Actor Kirk Page and Melbourne University Academic Peter Eckersall.
Description Source Programme
Primary Genre Theatre - Spoken Word
Secondary Genre Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Produced
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Created
Subjects Indigenous Australia
Organisations
Contributors
Name Function Notes
Kirk Page Actor
Yoshio Wada Director
Roger Bennett Playwright
Works
Text Nationality Australia
Production Nationality Japan
Event Status Completed
Data Source
Source Description
Programme Ancient Future Australian Arts Festival Japan 2003 online programme http://australia.or.jp/_projects/ancientfuture/eng/events/event_schedule.php
Event Identifier 118802