Type – Youth Justice, First Nations Voices, Contemporary
If You Liked – The Resistance, At What Cost?, Parramatta Girls
Saplings: A dynamic, raw, and funny play that strikes at the heart of an unjust system
Growing up is hard enough, and for many of our First Nations Youth the idea of a safe and normal childhood feels fleeting. The teenagers in Hannah Belansky’s Saplings are at constant odds with the law, in a justice system that so quickly threatens them with punishment. After a successful run at Sydney Festival 2024, this production returns to tour and remind its audiences about the persisting realities of the youth detention system in this country. Inspired by the real life experiences of Blak kids, the Yuwaalaraay playwright gives us a collection of raw, heartwarming, and dynamic stories.
Told through a series of vignettes with striking and fast pacing, Saplings is a work that commands us to pay attention to the urgency of its themes. We see the hopes and aspirations of these kids get cut down as their brutal realities set in. As an audience, we are afforded snapshots of the blatant unfairness in the justice system, highlighting the many voices still often unheard. Rightfully, any representation of law enforcement is absent in Saplings. Instead pulling our focus to the personal accounts of its characters.
We sadly see them growing up too quickly when they have yet to discover who they are. Kalkadoon artist, Abbie-Lee Lewis’s direction brings out the humanity in each scene – subverting any labels of ‘delinquency’ or ‘juveniles’ from these kids. In a show where versatility is key, the staging is coordinated in a way that allows us an equitable amount of time to process the personal narratives in the play – no matter how brief.
Throughout the intensity and grittiness, the show interweaves bits of authentic comedy into bleak scenarios. A boy dreams of starting a duo band with his friend so he can make it big and pay for his mum’s electric bill. A group of friends discuss the best way to hide a vape when being detained. A girl awkwardly attempts to take on photography at the suggestion of a teacher. A teen gets questioned after breaking his bail by going to Woolies to buy some instant noodles. Scenarios like these point out how ordinary acts could result in unjust consequences for Blak kids.
The play’s four performers alternate between different roles, showcasing the multi-dimensional weight of each scene. Maliyan Blair returns to the cast with a well-sharpened performance. Sam Harmon brings tenderness and vulnerability, Danny Howard switches between domineering and shy personalities with ease, and Talijah
Blackman-Corowa portrays fearlessness and confidence in the play’s female characters. The level of physicality and movement choreography by Tim Dashwood is noteworthy, especially during fight sequences.
The show lingers on its transitions between scenes, displaying the vibrant production design. Sound design and composition by Wiradjuri musician, Michael Weir brings in the heart-thumping and restlessness of the overarching themes. The incorporation of original rap and hip hop soundtracks by artists in the justice system resonate deeply.
Lighting by Morgan Moroney ranges from confronting to intimate atmospheres, playing well with the predominantly concrete-grey set. Moroney co-created the set design with Angela Doherty, their collaboration ensuring the versatility of the stage. Panels and steps are moveable along with the minimal props brought out on stage.
Is Saplings Worth Seeing on tour?
Let’s put it this way. The stark reality in this country is that Indigenous children remain over-represented in youth detention centres. A figure that continues to grow every year. In most Australian states and territories the minimum age of criminal responsibility still remains at 10 years-of-age.
Despite its 80 minute run, Saplings tells us the names and profoundly human stories beyond the statistics the general public tends to hear in the news. The play prompts us to question what we owe to the next generation of First Nations children. As the production embarks on its national tour, reaching as many communities as possible, it asks us to step out of our own hectic lives and simply listen.
Tickets and practical Info for Saplings
Touring nationally until 1 Sep
Tickets: https://www.atyp.com.au/productions/saplings#ticketing
Thu 9 July Ipswich Civic Centre
Mon 13 July until Sat 18 July Queensland Performing Arts Centre
Thu 23 Jul Fri 24 Jul Geelong Arts Centre
Tue 28 Jul until Sat 1 Aug Arts Centre Melbourne
Wed 5 Aug until Sat 8 Aug Darwin*
Thu 13 Aug until Sat 15 Aug Theatre Royal Hobart
Thu 20 Aug BMEC Bathurst
Sat 22 Aug Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre
Tue 25 Aug The Joan Penrith
Fri 28 Aug The Forge Theatre Bairnsdale
Tue 1 Sep Lighthouse Theatre Warrnambool
CAST
Talijah Blackman-Corowa
Maliyan Blair
Sam Harmon
Danny Howard
CREATIVES
Writer – Hannah Belanszky
Director – Abbie-Lee Lewis
Associate Director and Producer – Ryan Whitworth-Jones
Dramaturg- Jane FitzGerald
Co-Set and Costume Designer– Angela Doherty
Co-Set and Lighting Designer – Morgan Moroney
Composer and Sound Designer – Michael Weir
Fight Director – Tim Dashwood
Production Manager – Abbey Pace
Stage Manager – Anastasia Mowen
Photography by – Clare Hawley
Videography by – Carnivore Films
