The Fox and the Freedom Fighters
Fighting for worthy causes requires its fair share of sacrifices, and no one knows that better than Nadeena Dixon granddaughter of the trailblazing Aboriginal activist Charles “Chicka” Dixon. In their new theatre work, The Fox and the Freedom Fighter, Nadeena and her mother Rhonda explore the side of Chicka Dixon that the public wasn’t privy to.
“I didn’t get the bedtime stories. I got taken off to marches and rallies,” says Nadeena Dixon of her upbringing. “It was my version of normal. It wasn’t until later, when I was doing all the research for the project, that we found the ASIO files on my grandfather. That explained why we moved so much, because our phones were tapped, so we were under surveillance.”
The work aims to present a more comprehensive picture of who Chicka Dixon was – something that only became clear to Nadeena herself when she started her own research.
“It became a trail, we were in search of this man who had so many aspects to himself.” Ultimately, Nadeena hopes a more comprehensive picture will prove equally inspiring to audiences. “We hope this inspires Australia to be proud of who we are,” she continues. “You can be reborn and find something bigger than yourself to contribute and you can leave a legacy and make a difference.” (SW)
Nov 12-22, Carriageworks, 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh, $25-35, ticketmaster.com.au
Written by Siri Williams
