A true-life testimony to people-power, and persistence.
Back to Bilo is the profoundly moving new play from celebrated local company Belloo Creative (Boy, Lost) made with — and from — the heart of regional Queensland.
Priya and Nades left war-torn Sri Lanka and found each other in regional Queensland. They married, had two daughters, worked hard and settled into a simple but happy country life.
Their community welcomed the new family with open arms — until four years later, after an unexpected knock at the door, they were ripped away in a dawn raid. The family’s story could have ended there, but a brave band of Biloela women weren’t giving up so easily. Fighting alongside the young refugee family, the women launched a grassroots campaign that galvanised hundreds of thousands of ordinary Australians demanding the family be brought back home.
This is the remarkable true account of one family’s ordeal in the nightmare limbo of immigration detention, a story proving that love is stronger than fear and that persistence and togetherness can win against crushing odds.
Dates & Times
3 - 16 Sep
Duration: 90 mins, no interval.
Venue
Prices & Ticket Info
Adult Single Tickets from $70 Concession Single Tickets from $68 35 & Under Single Tickets from $35
Accessibility
- Assistive Listening
- Wheelchair Access
- 75% Visual Content
Auslan Interpreted and Audio Described Performance: Fri 12 Sep, 7:30pm
Audio Described Performance: Sat 13 Sep, 2pm
Important Info
This production includes loud noises, flashing lights, backout, haze, and mature content and themes such as war, detention, and children in distress.
Recommended for ages 14+
Credits
Creatives:
- Writer Katherine Lyall-Watson
- Director Caroline Dunphy
- Original Concept Matt Scholten
- Dramaturg Kathryn Kelly
- Production Design (Lighting & Set) Govin Ruben
- Costume and Props Design Keerthi Subramanyam
- Sound Design Guy Webster
- Composers Guy Webster & Menaka Thomas
- Video Designer Mic Gruchy
- Videographer (Biloela Video Content) Shaun Charles
- Tamil Cultural Consultants Sudhesh Somu & Vashini Jayakumar
- Assistant Director Janaki Gerard
- Producer Performing Lines
- Producer (Belloo) Kristen Maloney
- Foyer Installation Artist Charlotte Haywood
- Design Associate (Set) Max Bowyer
- Accent Coach Melissa Agnew
- Tamil Language Coach Dr Gunalan Shanmuganathan
- Dramaturgical Mentee Jai Bofinger
Crew:
- Production Manager Jason Thelwell
- Stage Manager Mikayla Hosking
- Assistant Stage Manager Tia-Hanee Cleary
Cast:
- Liz Buchanan
- Matt Domingo
- Sarah McIntosh
- Erika Naddei
- Menaka Thomas
- Leah Vandenberg
Cover Janaki Gerard
Cover Sudhesh Somu
Accent Coach Melissa Agnew
Tamil Language Coach Dr Gunalan Shanmuganathan
Dramaturgical Mentee Jai Bofinger
Image by Stephanie Coombes
Supported By
This project has been assisted by the Australian Government’s Major Festivals Initiative, managed by Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body, in association with the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals Inc commissioned by Brisbane Festival, Darwin Festival, Perth Festival and Queensland Theatre.
Reviews
Cathy Hunt, Women of the World Festival