Katie Pollock’s new impactful companion piece – Human Activity
Image: Cast of Human Activity, Showing this September. Image: Supplied
Making its world premiere at the King’s Cross Theatre (KXT) this September, Human Activity by Katie Pollock delivers a somber and impactful story of shock and grief.
Set in the aftermath of the Lindt Café shooting in 2014, 5 people search for answers amongst the dark city.
The show tells the story of a young woman running away from violence, a homeless woman finding her existence on the street, an elderly couple searching for their missing daughter and a security guard searching for peace. However, when all their lives intersect in Martin Place, it causes some shattering consequences.
Whilst not directly addressing the events from the Lindt Café siege, the acclaimed playwright says the story is “heavily informed by the mood of the city at the time.”
“That act of violence had a ripple effect on us all. It especially affected women, and in particular women from Muslim backgrounds who were subjected to harassment and a huge upswing of racist acts in the aftermath. It felt like it changed the city forever. Our sense of safety vanished overnight,” Pollock explains.
This new stage production is an Australian companion piece to the critically-acclaimed Jatinga (2017) – inspired by the lives of girls impacted by sexual slavery in Kamathipura.
From 2013 to 2017, visonary-director Suzanne Millar worked with Apne Aap Women’s Collective in Mumbai, to establish an arts program for young women and raise funds for a night shelter to accomodate vulnerable children.
Directing for Jatinga and now Human Activity, Millar describes the collaborative and “ambitious project” it has been for the company in providing these artistic perspectives.
“We took Katie [Pollock] to Mumbai in 2015 to engage with the girls in Kamathipura and the actors developing Jatinga,” says Millar.
“When Jatinga had its world premiere at KXT, we brought out several of our Mumbai-based partners and
actors to work on the season with us – it was a true international collaboration.”
Producer and Co-Artistic Director John Harrison describes Millar’s work as “Art that creates social change,” which has “changed the landscape” of the directing sector.
With Millar’s skilful direction and Pollock’s artistic writing perspective, Human Activity cultivates an insightful and poignant tale for audiences. This anticipated production comes to the KXT this September, for a limited time.
