BEAUTIFUL ONE DAY

In 2004, on tiny Palm Island, off the coast of Queensland, an Aboriginal man died while in police custody. In the aftermath of the tragic death and following decades of white rule and black protest, the anger of the island’s inhabitants reached a boiling point. Belvoir’s Beautiful One Day is a project that explores what happened on that fateful day, as seen through the eyes of the Palm Islanders themselves. As raw as it is confronting, the show stars three Islanders in their first theatrical appearances, and combines documentary-style footage with conversation. Through their own stories and images, told in their own words, the work captures the horrible reality of an unnecessary death, and looks forward to a brighter future for Palm.

Until Dec 23, Belvoir Street, Upstairs Theatre, 25 Belvoir Street, Surry Hills, $42-62, 9699 3444 belvoir.com.au