BEING a person in the 21st century digital age is a funny old thing.
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With Facebook, Twitter and Instagram recording every moment of our lives, what does that say about privacy and freedom?
Federation University Arts Academy third year graduating students will attempt to answer that question in a thought-provoking play to begin this Friday night.
Love and Information, by English playwright Caryl Churchill, explores the theme of information technology and its impact on contemporary society.
Freelance theatre director Kirsten von Bibra has been recruited to lead the fast-moving performance, with its huge cast of 30 students and mind-boggling 50 scenes and 100 characters.
It is so fast moving that some scenes are only one line long, encompassing all forms of language from spoken word to dance to signing.
“The whole play is about privacy and public knowledge. In this day and age, there’s so much digital information. A lot of it is about the interplay of what’s private and what’s public,” Ms von Bibra said.
“Does a famous person have any entitlement to their privacy? How much do we own a famous person, because all of their information is available?”
Performed in striking red costumes among a stage beset with stark rouge trees, the play is set in an abstract and surreal world.
Ms von Bibra, who is now directing in her fourth production with Federation University over the past 10 years, said the student actors had been training intensely in the use of voice and language.
She said this was particularly important when it came to enunciation, which she said a strong command of was vital for effective communication.
Ms von Bibra also agreed with recent reports that Federation University’s Arts Academy was punching well above its weight.
“I’ve been here only four times in the past 10 years and have really seen an escalation in the quality of acting and what they’re turning out,” she said.
“I’m really heartened by that.”
Love and Information will be performed at the Helen Macpherson Smith Theatre in Camp Street from June 3 to 10. Tickets online at www.federation.edu.au/faculties-and-schools/faculty-of-education-and-arts/events