Voice for people without one
Star
18 May 2004
By Amy Darby Walker
Diana Greentree is giving voice to people without a voice - refugees.
The Williamstown artist is concerned at the Australian government's treatment of refugees. She said politicians have heard the concerns before but they need to hear them again.
Ms Greentree is joining other members of Actors for Refugees in a trip to Canberra for World Refugee Day next month. The group will participate in a rally for human rights on 20 June. The next day, they will perform their show Club Refuge in Parliament House.
Ms Greentree said Club Refuge was devised and written by actors, including herself, based on true stories of people in detention centres.
'I suppose we're trying to persuade politicians to take a more humane approach by telling the stories we've heard,' she said.
Ms Greentree said that although they have performed the show more than 300 times for schools and community groups, each performance is unique. 'We use different stories each time,' she said.
The show continues to evolve as the actors are always learning about different refugees by visiting detention centres and through letters they receive.
'We have stacks of stories,' she said.' People in detention beg us to tell stories to the community.'
Ms Greentree said that the process is emotionally exposing.
'They have been to hell and back, they are very in touch with their emotions,' she said.
The first time you hear someone's story, she said, it's impossible not to cry as you feel ashamed and angry at their treatment.
'Performing the pieces is cathartic,' Ms Greentree said. 'Doing the performance eases your pain because you feel like you are doing something practical to help them.'
One story they perform is that of Ali, a 15-year-old who fled the Taliban in Afghanistan, spending two years in an Australian detention centre. By performing his story in Club Refugee, Actors for Refugees raised awareness on his story and many students began to send him letters.
Now at 17, he is recognised as a refugee and his story is documented in 'Letters from Ali', a film by Clara Law and Eddie Fong appearing in the 2004 Melbourne Film Festival.
Ms Greentree said that she knows the show has a profound impact on viewers as it brings to light the lack of understanding by the government and the cruelty of people towards one another. Actors for Refugees has about 100 members but only five perform in a single show.
Locally, Actors for Refugees will perform Club Refuge at St Patrick's Cathedral in East Melbourne on 30 May at 4pm and a similarly themed show, Something to Declare, at the Melbourne Town Hall on 8 July around 8pm.
There is no fee to enter but any donations made are given to refugees.
18 May 2004
By Amy Darby Walker
Diana Greentree is giving voice to people without a voice - refugees.
The Williamstown artist is concerned at the Australian government's treatment of refugees. She said politicians have heard the concerns before but they need to hear them again.
Ms Greentree is joining other members of Actors for Refugees in a trip to Canberra for World Refugee Day next month. The group will participate in a rally for human rights on 20 June. The next day, they will perform their show Club Refuge in Parliament House.
Ms Greentree said Club Refuge was devised and written by actors, including herself, based on true stories of people in detention centres.
'I suppose we're trying to persuade politicians to take a more humane approach by telling the stories we've heard,' she said.
Ms Greentree said that although they have performed the show more than 300 times for schools and community groups, each performance is unique. 'We use different stories each time,' she said.
The show continues to evolve as the actors are always learning about different refugees by visiting detention centres and through letters they receive.
'We have stacks of stories,' she said.' People in detention beg us to tell stories to the community.'
Ms Greentree said that the process is emotionally exposing.
'They have been to hell and back, they are very in touch with their emotions,' she said.
The first time you hear someone's story, she said, it's impossible not to cry as you feel ashamed and angry at their treatment.
'Performing the pieces is cathartic,' Ms Greentree said. 'Doing the performance eases your pain because you feel like you are doing something practical to help them.'
One story they perform is that of Ali, a 15-year-old who fled the Taliban in Afghanistan, spending two years in an Australian detention centre. By performing his story in Club Refugee, Actors for Refugees raised awareness on his story and many students began to send him letters.
Now at 17, he is recognised as a refugee and his story is documented in 'Letters from Ali', a film by Clara Law and Eddie Fong appearing in the 2004 Melbourne Film Festival.
Ms Greentree said that she knows the show has a profound impact on viewers as it brings to light the lack of understanding by the government and the cruelty of people towards one another. Actors for Refugees has about 100 members but only five perform in a single show.
Locally, Actors for Refugees will perform Club Refuge at St Patrick's Cathedral in East Melbourne on 30 May at 4pm and a similarly themed show, Something to Declare, at the Melbourne Town Hall on 8 July around 8pm.
There is no fee to enter but any donations made are given to refugees.
posted by Actors for Refugees at 6:16 PM
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