This Heaven
by Nakkiah Lui
by Nakkiah Lui
This Heaven tells the story of Sissy Gordon and her Aboriginal family grappling with the aftermath of her father's death in police custody, leading to a fierce exploration of justice and community anger.
About The Play
About The Play
A new production commissioned by the Finborough Theatre and originally seen as a staged reading as part of Vibrant – A Festival of Finborough Playwrights, the European premiere of This Heaven by indigenous Australian writer Nakkiah Lui.
Telling a universal story and evoking recent events in Ferguson, Baltimore, and the London riots of 2011, This Heaven is the story of an indigenous Australian family at breaking point.
Sissy Gordon’s father, an Aboriginal man and pillar of the community, has died in custody at Mount Druitt Police Station, New South Wales. But the justice that Sissy and her family were certain was coming to them is suddenly snatched away. Sissy is about to qualify as a lawyer, but tonight, the law seems irrelevant to her. Tonight is dirty and heavy, and the moon is swollen and bright. Everyone knows that on nights like this things happen…
Burning with a wild rage, the streets and parks of Mount Druitt are transformed into a fierce public forum where anger explodes onto the street. What does justice look like? And what happens when you push someone so far they take the law into their own hands?
This Heaven received its world premiere in February 2013 at the Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney. It was an instant hit, with a sellout production that was extended twice.
This is an extraordinary opportunity to share the story of one Aboriginal family’s experience of a system that fails them through the stories and music of an ancient and beautiful culture.
Post Show Discussion – This Heaven: Culture, Custody and Protest.
Monday 14 September 2015
Audience members are invited to remain after the performance on Monday 14 September for a panel discussion, and Question and Answer session on the issues and themes of This Heaven.
Chaired by Director Laura McCluskey, and featuring:
Deborah Coles. Director – InQuest www.inquest.org.uk
Michael Walling. Artistic Director – Border Crossings www.bordercrossings.org.uk
Alexandra O’Brien. Aboriginal Art Specialist – Bay Gallery www.baygallerylondon.com
The discussion is free for ticket holders to the performance that evening.