F l a s h B l a c k

Perth - the most isolated city in the world. But a virus is spreading causing blindness within seconds and isolation is no obstacle. As the epidemic spreads so does the panicÂ…
What happens when we are removed from the world of vision? Will morality hold out in a world where no-one can see to tell?

Based on an idea from the book "Blindness" by Jose Saramago who won the 1998 Nobel Prize for literature this play was self-devised by cast and artists of Two Tonne Budgie and Act 5 using the Mike Leigh Method. Using this method the characters are individually created by the director Cara Sutcliffe and the actors - this allows the play to be exceptionally realistic and the characters extremely believable.

The actors are Ian Bolgia, Nick Candy, John Foreman, Kara Sands and Michelle Searle, directed by Cara Sutcliffe and produced by Allan Mathiasch.

For this performance cast and crew have the generous support of the Senses Foundation Inc. and various vision impaired individuals. Especially Len Campbell who himself is vision-impaired worked closely with the sighted actors to gain access to personal experiences of vision impaired and blind. These experiences are then utilised during the development of the characters and the confined space of the stage condenses the gathered knowledge and emotions to create an intense performance.

The state of Western Australia has made an investment in this project through ArtsWA in association with the Lotteries Commission.

For photographs/artwork, information and interviews, please contact Allan at
Act 5, (08) 9204 4623, mobile 0414 491 378 or email act5mail@yahoo.com.