Theatre: Hart (★★★★½)

by Ian Michael and Seanna van Helten
Directed by Penny Harpham
Designed by Chloe Greaves
Sound designed by Raya Slavin
Lighting designed by Katie Sfetkidis
AV designed by Michael Carmody
Performed by Ian Michael
Until June 11

One moment, early in Ian Michael’s powerfully argued tour de force, Hart, says it all. It wasn’t the archival images of Aboriginal men in chains in work camps, although they were deeply humiliating and sickening.
It was a simple statement of fact, from one of the four indigenous men whose interwoven stories Michael tells in Hart, whose lives have been affected, directly or indirectly, through the stolen generation: “I was given an age by the government”.
Michael gives a wonderful, controlled performance, and he’s given great support by his director, Penny Harpham, designer Chloe Greaves, sound designer Raya Slavin and lighting designer Katie Sfetkidis.
Between them they have created a moving, enlightening and entertaining work that is an important addition to our understanding of these terrible events.
I hope you are able to see it. 

Read the complete review in The West Australian