Anthology
'When one is forgotten, one ceases to exist'
Produced by Pip Buining and Louise Morris
ANTHOLOGY eulogises the lives of the unsung transient workers, past and present, who have built our nations capital. It delves into our unspoken past and remembered present to reveal rich potential in our imagined future.
ANTHOLOGY is a site sympathetic theatrical journey through Westlake, now known as Stirling Park – Ngunawal land, a traditional pathway and the site of one of the camps created to house the workers building the new city of Canberra. Tents and a hall were erected followed by 61 cottages built in 1923, for married tradesmen building the infrastructure for the new Federal Capital of Australia. These families lived at Westlake for 50 years until the 1960’s when the families were relocated, the houses sold and removed. Westlake is now a parkland, nestled between the lake and the Embassies of Yarralumla.
As the audience is guided through Westlake – the remnants of a community are waiting to be discovered, fragments of hidden memories can be glimpsed, shadow spaces inhabited by workers and their families are littered with broken conversations. A forgotten community is suspended in time, whispered stories are waiting to be heard...
ANTHOLOGY was developed as part of the Centenary of Canberra celebrations, and is proudly supported by the ACT Government through ArtsACT
