In Our Name
Written/directed by Nigel Jamieson, in association with the Al Abaddi family
Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney
Playing until May 30
REVIEW BY BRENDAN DOYLE
There are many moments of heart-stopping beauty in this staged narrative of an Iraqi family the Australian government almost destroyed.
It is no easy thing to bring the suffering of a real family, in this case the Al Abaddis, to the stage in a way that works theatrically. Many have tried, with very mixed results. Writer/director Nigel Jamieson has succeeded in telling the extraordinary true story of the Al Abaddi family's three-and-a-half years in detention, trying to find a secure home in Australia.
Into a harsh square of light in the middle of a red-sand expanse walks a little girl. We are in Iraq, before Saddam Hussein's fall. Her father runs a modest family business. Her gentle mother sings the first of her plaintive, lovely songs in Arabic. The other members of the family step hesitantly into the light to introduce themselves.
But things are starting to go wrong. Saddam's standover men persecute this Shia family, who are forced to flee to Syria. The father finds a way to buy a passage to Australia, but nearly dies in a leaky boat and returns to Syria. A second attempt is made by the entire family, who are overjoyed at reaching land safely.
But they are shuffled around to Curtin, Port Hedland, and finally Villawood. Hunger strikes, lip-sewing and suicide attempts follow.
Family members are cruelly separated. One spends time in solitary confinement. Promises are made but fail to materialise. After more than three years of institutionalised brutality, they are accepted into New Zealand as refugees.
Ominously, the play ends with a projected text suggesting that the Al Abaddis may still be sent back to Iraq, now that Saddam Hussein's regime has fallen.
As the story unfolds, Hussain Samawi and Davood Tabrizi provide moody music on traditional instruments. There is skilful use of projected images, including paintings by detained children.
In Our Name brings theatre and reality together in two intriguing ways. First, the Al Abaddi family have contributed to the writing. Also, director Jamieson has chosen to use actors who bring great authenticity to their roles, some of them having themselves fled persecution in Iraq.
Justice has not yet been done to the thousands who have suffered persecution in Australia's detention centres. But audiences cannot fail to connect with the emotional truth of this fine production.
From Green Left Weekly, May 5, 2004.
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