Created by Geskeva Komba

Based on the play written by Dave Cuong Nguyen, Dr Dave Kelman and members of the Flemington Theatre Group

Logline

After a low-key house party turns into a police raid, a group of friends are forced into a frenzied day journey that sees them questioning their friendships, challenging the law and the world they live in.

Synopsis

Black Face White Mask’ is a 8 x 1 hour young adult, comedy-drama television series that follows the lives of a group of friends who start to question their friendships, challenge the law and the world they live in, after a low-key house party gets raided by police.

Set in Flemington, the home of the Melbourne cup and the face of many nations. The protagonists try to make light of the situations they have found themselves in, at one point or another. The various story lines intersect and go back and forth from the night before and into the next day, as the individuals question their place in a society where prejudices and confronting stereotypes are all too common.

Exploring racism with humour and subtlety, relationships, power, cross-generational tension and gendered roles. The protagonists tackle the perennial question asked by many Australian migrants over the years, and try to navigate being caught living in two worlds and if they belong anywhere at all.

Origins of the Project

The story of 'Black Face White Mask' is a fictional story that has been weaved together from the many experiences black and brown people often have living in a country like Australia. The young people who originally contributed to the writing of this story, chose memories and anecdotes of real events to display a part of Australian culture that isn’t represented in the mainstream. Through theatre and the guidance of experienced artist practitioners and directors, what was developed was a representation of only a small fraction of the many stories that are continually becoming part of our landscape. The other opportunity it gave was a local lens on a global issue such as displacement and what it can do to us.

Lived experiences of migration and displacement are all too common and create a curiosity and a need for individuals to find spaces that hold and nurture who they are, as they are underrepresented in many ways within society. Always known as a place with a reputation for complex political and social issues, the Flemington Estates is also a home for many people and many families who have such experiences. The stories and memories held in such a place are important to hear and see because they keep our minds connected to our hearts and to each other.

'Black Face White Mask' is a story that deconstructs the human condition and the fear of not being or knowing if we are enough the way we are. It explores what we value as people and particularly anyone that is forced to live and balance two cultures, while fighting to find or to keep their identity. The lived experiences of the writers are intertwined within the lives of the characters what is manifested can only be summarised as follows:

Strong me – I am a citizen of the world
Weaker me – I am an African-Australian
Among Africans in Australia – I am African
Overseas – I am an Aussie…

(Flemington Theatre Group, 2012)

Testimonials:

“It confounds expectations by exploding stereotypes and presenting multiple points of view with self-satiring humour and open-hearted performances” - The Age, Review

“The great thing about Black Face White Mask is that Flemington Theatre Group's riff on what it's like to be a young person living astride two cultures… is full of surprises and what it lacks in technical finesse, it makes up for with infectious energy and an aura of authenticity“ - SMH, Review