Quick quiz: Name the play with a fresh outlook on Federation

8 August 2001

A quartet of 20-year-old actors has devised a TV game-style approach to explain what Federation means from a young person's perspective to high school student audiences.

Birth of a Nation is the brainchild of third-year Creative Arts students from the University of Wollongong - Alexander Manojlovic, Anna-Lea Russo, Mark Haslam and Emma Gleeson. They are the writers, producers, directors and performers. The play is a comical piece probing into the very essence of why we celebrate Federation. "We basically knew that Edmund Barton was the first Prime Minister and that Henry Parkes had something to do with Federation but that was about it," said the troupe.

The play uses an innovative game show format, with 'contestants' asked questions about Federation on-camera, while the topic's relevance to Australia is pondered during the 'ad breaks'.

The eight-week tour of the play has been made possible by a $30,000 grant from the NSW Centenary of Federation Council.

Note: Illawarra media: The next performance will be at Figtree High School, Gibsons Rd, Figtree, at 9am on Thursday 9 August.

Note: Sydney media: Some future performances will be at Marist Brothers High School, Victoria Ave, Penshurst, from 8.45am on Tuesday 14 August; and at the International Grammar School, Kelly St, Ultimo, from 2pm on Thursday 16 August.

For further information contact Mark Haslam on 0403 721 935.