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NORPA SHOW: This Kind of Ruckus

WHEN Paul ‘Fatty’ Vautin patted Matthew Johns on the shoulder on live television, declaring “All right mate, well said. All right, let’s get on with the show”, he consigned the abhorrent group sex incident involving a New Zealand women to little more than a bad joke.

A devised theatre piece that explores the politics of gender, power, control and violence in modern Australian culture, with a focus on attitudes within rugby league, will take centre stage at Lismore City Hall next week, presented by NORPA.

Drawing upon recent high-profile sexual assault scandals, accounts of relationship violence, and the subtle violence implicit within most relationships, this is confronting, unsettling and powerful theatre from Version 1.0 – the acclaimed team which brought 2009’s Deeply Offensive and Utterly True

“The production uses media commentary on recent scandals involving rugby league behaviour to reflect on violence within ourselves, our society and the world at large,” Version 1.0 chief executive officer David Williams says.

“But it’s not only about rugby league players. We reflect on the fact it’s not right that high-profile celebrities can get away with violence against women. We also draw on how the judiciary system in this country deals with sexual assault.”

The show integrates perspectives from individuals who worked on the show, exploring issues of consent and the darker moments in relationships.

“Men need to think of the subtle ways we are complicit with violence against women,” Williamson says.

“What we hope is the show will open a space for public discussion on the issues. It’s not a black and white show.”

NORPA presents This Kind of Ruckus at the Lismore City Hall on Friday, March 12, at 8pm.

Tickets are $47, $38 concession and $21 under 18 and are available from www.norpa.org.au or 1300 066 772.

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http://www.northernstar.com.au/story/2010/02/04/norpa-has-earned-its-reputation-by-being-at-the-fo/