Celebrating the opening of Detention: A powerful journey onstage
This past week, we opened our latest production, Detention, at Riverside Theatres in Parramatta, welcoming young audiences from across Sydney into a story that’s both poignant and powerful.
Detention, adapted from Tristan Bancks’ compelling novel, follows the journey of Sima, a 14-year-old Hazara refugee, escapes with her family from a detention centre in Queensland. It’s a story that speaks directly to 10–13-year-olds, offering them a window into the complexities of the world through the lens of theatre.
Our brilliant creative team with director Randa Sayed and playwrights Callan Purcell and Kobra Sayyadi have brought this work to life with care and honesty.
Eva Di Cesare, our Artistic Director, shared:
“This work represents everything we believe in at Monkey Baa. Creating theatre that gives voice to young people and to the artists who tell their stories. Detention grew from collaboration and shared purpose, and what’s emerged is a production that truly belongs to those who made it.”
At Monkey Baa, we believe theatre has the power to help young people see their lives and the lives of others reflected on stage. It’s about creating sparks of understanding and empathy that last a lifetime.
Next week, Detention travels to Wagga and Leeton (a community with strong Hazara connections) where we’ll continue this conversation with regional audiences.
Thank you to our cast, crew, creatives, supporters, donors and everyone in our extended Monkey Baa family. Your belief in the importance of theatre for young people makes this work possible. Stay tuned for more!
