Girls Light Up is a unique piece of theatre. It’s a rock opera, performed in a carpark, involving three amazing artists (POST) and a collection of community groups. It’s wild, raw and unforgettable.
The performance is centred on the Bidwill riot of 1981, where two girls got into a bust up, most probably over a guy. Doesn’t sound like much of a riot? Those who were there, say it wasn’t. A journalist came via helicopter to cover the incident and there are claims that the girls were bribed with cigarettes to re-enact the fight. There’s nothing like a news camera to escalate events …
There are many differing sides to this story and Post have been working with community members to collate Bidwill’s version of events. Since the infamous riots, Bidwill has lived with a bad reputation for over 3 decades.
It’s time to fight back.
‘Ever seen two chicks fight?’ the audience are asked before witnessing a clash between an electric guitar and a drum kit. The musicians are set on top of a car and a shed, facing each other over the audience. This sense of play continues throughout the majority of the performance. At various stages, community choirs are revealed, drummers conjure up images of a bloodthirsty crowd, a talented young boy by the name of Shaun Millwood creates helicopters, sirens and more with just his voice. Then real interviews with locals bring home the reality of what took place back in 1981.
The final image of the piece is a helicopter flying overhead, the media looking down on Bidwill. In 1981, they saw an opportunity to capitalise on a particular image of Western Sydney, but here in 2014, what would they make of FUNPARK. That is the question.
FUNPARK 