VIGIL is dance, theatre and film. A fearless epic work.
VIGIL – IN DEVELOPMENT – PREMIERING 2025
A HUSBAND KILLS HIS WIFE.
ANOTHER VIGIL FOR A DEAD WOMAN.
ANOTHER DEATH IN CUSTODY.
PROTEST.
IS THERE NO PLACE THAT IS SAFE?
NO TEMPLE THAT IS SACRED?
WHAT LIVES MATTER?
IT IS THE 21ST CENTURY FEAR HAUNTS OUR NATION. COURAGE IS ITS CONTENDER.
VIGIL brings together an eclectic group of writers, a choreographer and a community performance ensemble to examine the intersection of public and private safety with race, gender and terrorism in the streets of a modern city.
CREATIVE TEAM
Director/Concept Irine Vela
Dramaturg Mari Lourey
Writers Sahra Davoudi, Samah Sabawi, Patricia Cornelius, Bryan Andy and Kush Kuiy
Choreographer/Dance Artist Tara Jade Samaya
Writer Mentors Christos Tsiolkas and Samah Sabawi
Dance Film Artists (Berlin and Scotland) Pippa Samaya, Tara Jade Samaya and Ivy-Victoria Otradovec
Dance Film Artists (Berlin) Renae Shadler, Stella Horta and Jonathan Reiter
Photographers and Videographers Pippa Samaya, Miguel Rios and Meredith O’Shea
Creative Development Artists Ajak Kwai, Vahideh Eisaei, Mary Sitarenos, Damian Seddon, Israel Aloni, Kush Kuiy, Maryanne Lynch, Adrienne Chisholm, Gina Gascoigne, Nicki Benza, Jennifer Large, Michaela Tancheff and Georgia Rudd
Developed with support from the Australian Government through the Australia Council and its arts funding and advisory body, the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria, Besen Family Foundation, Inner North Community Foundation and Merri-bek City Council.