RESUME ; theatre productions

CHILDREN'S THEATRE

 

NOBODY

(1hr Theatre production 1992 & 1994)

After several years performing and production managing for numerous Canberra and Melbourne based theatre groups, at the age of 19 Wendy Dent devised, produced and performed her own solo work "NOBODY":

A daring and dynamic play confronting issues of youth suicide, mental illness and homelessness, NOBODY was performed late at night in the coldest nights of winter in a dingy Melbourne city alley-way, attracting a sell out crowd and quickly becoming the headlining act of the 1994 Melbourne Fringe Festival. It was simultaneously included as a featured event of the 1994 Melbourne Health Week.

The production attracted further publicity when its season was dramatically ended after opening night; The production and its audience were evicted from the lane way upon threat of trespassing charges by a wealthy accountancy firm, liquidators for a derelict building nearby, who feared local streetkids might take refuge in their building, encouraged by the play! The irony was homeless streetkids had been squatting in the long forgotten building for years, further highlighting the message of Wendy Dent's production.

The production ended up in the law courts with Wendy Dent counter-sueing the company over a breach of the peace. As the play was funded solely through sponsorship from prominent media and charity organisations includng The Age, Triple M, Open family, The Smith Family and The Schizophrenia Fellowship of Australia, a David and Goliath media and legal battle quickly ensued. For the first time, the voice of the homeless was heard although the production was fated to months in limbo while the courts repeatedly postponed the trial because of the media frenzy set to surround it.

Although legal action stopped the event, it didn't stop the accolades about Wendy Dent's original work.

NOBODY was critically acclaimed by numerous Canberra and Melbourne arts reviewers, such as Chris Boyd of Melbourne's Sun-Herald who described it as;

"A sledgehammer monodrama... nothing short of inspired... spectacular...

The opening image of Dent descending a fire escape... is arresting. Tracy's flimsy clothes, laddered stockings and black lipstick almost glamorise the life.

By the end of the harrowing hour-long performance, any hint of glamour has been ground into the slush, into the cruel anonymity and isolation of the street. Wendy Dent's performance... soon reached a centred and graphic ferocity.

Nobody is a remarkable experience. Given a few more performances it might develop into one of the year's most memorable shows. It's certainly worth risking hypothermia (and a charge of trespass) to see."

 

 

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