SA: Future kids world set for premiere

AAP General News (Australia)
02-17-2000
SA: Future kids world set for premiere

ADELAIDE, Feb 17 AAP - Wards of the state fitted with neural implants live in a childcare
centre run by a computer program. Good behaviour is rewarded with a virtual reality day
trip.

This is the world portrayed in an ambitious new play set to make its world premiere
at the Adelaide Festival.

Set in 2020, Eat Your Young by Melbourne-based Arena Theatre Company is a multi-media
sci-fi spectacular which tells the story of the Bird children - Ava, Mary and Buddy -
certified uncontrollable wards of the state.

The only interaction the children have with adults is through advanced video software monitoring.

But when Buddy hacks into the system, the children are projected permanently into the
simulated world.

Known for its work with new technologies and multi-media, Arena combines giant robotic
screens, state-of-the-art projectors, animation and surround sound with live performance
to transport the audience into the children's experience.

Eat Your Young is the result of collaboration between the company, writer Julianne
O'Brien, composer Hugh Covill and digital artist Daniel Crooks.

Director Rosemary Myers says the production integrates live stage performance with multi-media.

"I think this is our most ambitious project to date," she says.

The story found its genesis in the files of a real Australian family brought up in
state care in the 1970s.

"We had this amazing, raw material that was very emotional and then we wanted to look
at how that material could be relevant to a contemporary audience and we wanted to work
in the genre of science-fiction," Myers says.

"I think the interesting thing about our play is it's really about how we treat marginalised
young people.

"This is really about how human beings can neglect young people."

Eat Your Young runs from March 2-6 at The Odeon Theatre.

AAP vm/ej

KEYWORD: YOUNG

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.