Download A staged reading of The Red Cross Letters

Friday 19 July 2013
A performed reading of The Red Cross Letters
State Theatre Company of South Australia, the State Library and Word Adelaide are pleased
to announce their collaboration on The Red Cross Letters – a project that forms part of the
new Word Adelaide festival.
Based upon the collections held at the State Library, The Red Cross Letters is a performed
reading of a selection of letters sent to the South Australian Red Cross Information Bureau
during World War 1 by Australians seeking news of their missing or injured loved ones on the
front, and the replies. The correspondence, coordinated by the Bureau, includes accounts
from military commanders, soldiers and mates who fought alongside those lost or wounded,
medical staff and volunteers.
There will be two performances of The Red Cross Letters held in the historic, wood-paneled
Mortlock Chamber at the State Library on Sunday 18 August at 12:30pm and 3:00pm.
Assembled and edited by playwright Verity Laughton, The Red Cross Letters will be directed
by State Theatre Company Artistic Director Geordie Brookman and feature a cast of some of
Adelaide’s best actors as well as a live score performed by Matthew Gregan. Geordie
Brookman says State Theatre Company is delighted to take part in this collaboration.
“We couldn’t be more excited to collaborate with Word Adelaide and the State Library on this
amazing project. It’s an honour to be given the opportunity to delve into a difficult moment in
the country’s history,” Geordie Brookman said.
Director of the State Library, Alan Smith, says the Red Cross Letters evolved from an ongoing
project involving the digitisation of 8000 enquiries made to the Bureau during WW1 by
relatives including parents, wives and sisters. It’s part of a major commitment by the Library to
digitise many South Australian WWI records and photographs for the Centenary of the War,
commencing next year.
“This is a unique opportunity to have an archive interpreted in a theatrical medium and we are
sure this will be an evocative and compelling experience. We are delighted to see this
precious South Australian history brought alive, particularly for the countless local families
whose ancestors were affected by WW1,” Mr Smith said.
A selection of 20 enquiry letters and the replies forms the basis of the performance script.
Word Adelaide Event Manager Brian Gilbertson said The Red Cross Letters was an exciting
addition to the festival program.
“Our festival celebrates the many ways in which words move us, and these poignant letters
hold enormous power,” Mr Gilbertson said.
“This is a rare chance to see a crucial part of our history brought into the present, and who
better to do so than Geordie Brookman and the talented State Theatre Company team.”
Australian Red Cross spokeswoman Helen Connolly said she was delighted The Red Cross
Letters had provided a platform for the correspondence to be heard.
“One hundred years on, the Red Cross International Tracing service continues to reduce the
suffering of people separated by war, conflict, disaster or migration by finding loved ones, reestablishing contact, exchanging family news and clarifying the fate of the missing,” Ms
Connolly said.
Word Adelaide is a new festival celebrating the power of words. It will be held from August
15-18 at venues across the city.
Visit www.wordadelaide.com.au for all the details and to book tickets to The Red Cross
Letters.
Word Adelaide is proudly owned and managed by Events South Australia, a division of the
South Australian Tourism Commission.
The Red Cross Letters
Director: Geordie Brookman
Dramaturg: Verity Laughton
Music: Matthew Gregan
Running time: 60 minutes
For further media enquiries, please contact Alex Weaver (Events South Australia) on
08 8463 4649, 0428 925 736 or [email protected]