7 - 26 May 2013
After eight years of teaching in some of New York’s toughest schools, Nilaja Sun decided to turn her experience to creating NO CHILD, a mesmerising solo show that, with pep and humour, depicts the battle-ground that US public education has become.
The story of a newly employed drama teacher, struggling to teach students who don’t expect much more than to drop out, get pregnant or go to jail, NO CHILD has blazed its way across stages in the US and Europe, flooring audiences and critics with its honesty and energy, and igniting debate with its searing portrayal of a public school system in crisis.
Nilaja Sun is a revelation:displaying uncanny comic timing and a prodigious ear for mimicry, she switches with ease between an impressive array of characters–teachers, parents, security guards, administrators and students–sketching out a quirky and dysfunctional high school ecosystem.
A brilliant revelation of the disparities that lie at the heart of America, NO CHILD is an incisive portrait of a broken system and a rallying cry on behalf of an entire generation.
"She is electrifying. Watching her with nothing but her own talent performing and her own words on a nearly empty stage will very possibly turn out to be one of the great pleasures of this year's Melbourne Festival. No Child... is in a class of its own."
★★★★★ HERALD SUN
"It is theatre in its purest form, delivered with passion, intelligence and integrity."
★★★★★ AUSTRALIAN STAGE
"It illustrates the power of theatre."
★★★★½ ARTS HUB
“NILAJA Sun's astonishing one-woman show bores under the skin of America's public education system.”
★★★★ THE AGE
“Anyone that has ever spent time in a classroom would adore this show, finding humour and familiarity in the situations. Truly unique and innovative in its delivery, “No Child…” is not to be missed.”
STAGE WHISPERS
“With a set consisting of four crappy looking chairs and a broom, this production is bare bones; relying on Sun to carry us all the way through… and she does. Boy, does she ever. Just go see it. Try not to miss it.”
AUSTRALIAN STAGE
“Standing ovations are the order of the day at Nilaja Sun’s one-woman show. It’s easy to see why, because in playing 16 characters and offering a remarkable tale of hope over adversity, Sun delivers the mix of tour de force performance and uplifting narrative that guarantees an Edinburgh hit.”
THE GUARDIAN
TICKETS
Full $35
Written and Performed by
NILAJA SUN
Directed by
HAL BROOKS
Lighting Design
MARK BARTON
Lighting Realisation
RICHARD VABRE
Stage Manager
JESSICA ROSS
Sound Design
RON RUSSELL
Costume Designer
JESSICA GAFFNEY
Produced by
DANIEL CLARKE, MARK CREES
