AN Australian-first theatre production is set to take the nation’s crystal methamphetamine “ice” scourge out of the shadows to tackle the alarming issue.
The Mount Gambier-based production – In The Pines – delves into how this insidious drug is devastating communities across Australia.
Gener8 Theatre artistic director Jamie Harding – who has spent years speaking with ice addicts, their families, police and prisoners – described their stories as “harrowing”.
“These people’s stories are in my bones, they are such a big part of me now – I need to make an impact,” Mr Harding told The Border Watch.
Mr Harding gave The Border Watch an insight into the innovative and unique production that will hit the stage at the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre next month in a “world premiere”.
The artistic piece is also set to break new ground in Australia’s theatre fraternity through the use of virtual reality technology that allows audiences to “step inside the world of ice”.
“Although it may be just a small part of the solution, if I can change one person’s perspective on drugs then that is all I ask for,” he said.
“There is a solution out there somewhere – maybe our story will help find that.”
Mr Harding said since starting the journey to create the theatre work, it had taken over his life.
“Like many others I came into the situation unaware of the deep impact ice has on communities,” he said.
“We began the process before the national media storm surrounding ice, so it really was not something people had been talking about.
“Once we delved deeper into the world surrounding drugs, we realised it was a story that needed to be told and highlighted.”
Mr Harding soon became aware of how close to home the story truly was.
“I started interviewing prisoners and addicts in addition to their loved ones, which was a real eye opening experience,” he said.
“But what I did not know was how many people I know personally who had been affected by the drug.
“I moved away to pursue a career quite young and seemingly lost touch with a lot of people I had been at school with.
“Through my research I found out about how many I knew growing up that had been lost to the drug.”
Mr Harding said once he got a grasp of how destructive the drug addiction truly was, he knew the public had to be immersed in it to understand.
“Hearing stories of those losing loved ones to drugs, the fear they could turn on them at any moment, it really hits you in the gut,” he said.
“I could not believe the conditions people are subjected to because of this epidemic, but I know it is hard to comprehend for those who have not seen it.
“I had to find a way to get through and really drive home what drug addiction does to people.”
With that thought burning in his mind, Mr Harding recalled viewing a virtual reality documentary about the 2005 London bombings during the Adelaide Fringe Festival.
“I had never felt more connected to a story than I did to that documentary after viewing it in VR,” Mr Harding said.
“I recall walking out on to a main road in Adelaide and realising how easily something can destroy lives.
“That feeling is what I needed to portray through In The Pines – I need my audience to experience full immersion into that world, which is why we have chosen to use VR as part of our production.”
The addition of VR headsets is something that is yet to be seen in Australian theatre.
“VR is such a new technology that we are one of the few with the opportunity to utilise it,” Mr Harding said.
“There have been some short films created using the tech in addition to other productions, but there has never been a seamless integration into a stage performance like ours.
“It is pretty exciting to have this available to us so we are able to push the message home even further.”
Through his experience speaking with those affected by the drug, Mr Harding believes change must come from the grassroots community.
“These families that are speaking up and telling the world what is really going on are the ones we need to be listening to,” he said.
“They have a wealth of knowledge about the subject and if they are willing to share their stories and promote change in a positive way then that is what needs to happen.
“Education plays such a key role in the eradication of the drug and those with the knowledge have so much to teach us.”
In The Pines is presented by Gener8 Theatre and supported by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, Arts South Australia, Country Arts SA, Australian Government Regional Arts Fund, South Australia’s Regional Development Fund, the Adelaide Festival Centre’s iNSPACE program, City of Mount Gambier, Beach Energy, Ovation Centre of Performing Arts and Novus Res.
Tickets are selling fast at the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre box office for the opening season of the production from August 23 to 25.
