This site is about the creation of Bright World by ARTHUR, a theatre company.
The show explores the intertwined histories of Jewish and Indigenous people in Australia through the experiences of its writers, Elise Hearst and Andrea James. They performed it alongside actors Kevin Kiernan-Molloy, Shari Sebbens and Guy Simon. It was directed by Paige Rattray.
Here, you will find an in-depth exploration of five key scenes from the production that reveal how writers and actors use theatre to connect traumatic events and heroic actions from the past to the lives of young people today.
Each scene is accompanied by two interviews with the writers and cast:
• in focus interviews explain how the scenes came about and what the artists were aiming for
• bigger picture discussions zoom out to consider the main themes and techniques being explored in each scene
You don’t have to have watched the whole show to follow along. The artists have a lot to say about writing and acting for devised performance, stagecraft and audience connections, and the responsibilities of representing different communities.
About the show
From Austria to Australia, Bright World is a rich cross-cultural adventure where Jewish and Indigenous Australian worlds collide.
1938. Europe burns. Young Jewish lovers Hans and Alice narrowly escape from Nazi-occupied Vienna.
Across the world, Australian Indigenous activist William Cooper leads protesters to the front door of Melbourne’s German Consulate to protest against Germany’s Nazi government. In an admirable act of cross-cultural solidarity with other victims of persecution, Cooper has one message—the repression of the Jewish people must end.
Almost eight decades later, two female playwrights—one the granddaughter of Hans and Alice and the other a descendent of Cooper—come together to explore their diverse, yet strangely intertwined cultural heritages.
Who’s Who
Explore KEY SCENES FROM THE SHOW
