Force Majeure

Never Did Me Any Harm

Never Did Me Any Harm, a co-production with Sydney Theatre Company, premieres at Sydney Festival in January 2012 and opens at Adelaide Festival in March 2012.

Over the past few decades the word ‘parenting’ has crept insidiously, almost imperceptibly, into our vernacular bringing with it increasing anxiety around issues of raising children. Is the pressure to get it right overwhelming us? And what is ‘good parenting’ anyway? Are children today given too much choice? Too few boundaries? Less chance to take risks? Are they protected from notions of failure? Sexualised too young?

Drawing inspiration from Christos Tsiolkas’ best-selling novel The Slap, we interviewed people of all ages and backgrounds to garner their views on the subject of parenting. Set in a familiar Aussie backyard, seven actors and dancers draw on this verbatim text to create a myriad of familiar characters.

Director Kate Champion
Set & Lighting Designer Geoff Cobham
Composer & Sound Designer Max Lyandvert
Dramaturg Andrew Upton
Associate Director Roz Hervey
Assistant Director Geordie Brookman

Performers

Kristina Chan
Vincent Crowley
Marta Dusseldorp
Alan Flower
Sarah Jayne Howard
Kirstie McCracken
Heather Mitchell
Josh Mu

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body, and by the Australian Government’s Major Festivals Initiative, managed by the Australia Council in association with the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals, Sydney Festival, Adelaide Festival and Melbourne International Arts Festival. Force Majeure is assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council and Arts NSW.

Photo: Tim Richardson