Play Details
Context
Artistic Director
Oscar Lewenstein
Dates Performed
Thursday 12th April 1973
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs
Wednesday 20th June 1973
Comedy Theatre
Play Details
Synopsis
A dimly lit theatre stage, where the boundaries between past and present, reality and ritual blur as the brutal history of colonialism plays out.
West, a British diplomat, embarks on a harrowing journey through Brazil, confronting the violent legacy of colonialism and his own complicity in the ongoing exploitation of indigenous peoples. As he moves between encounters with guerrillas, anthropologists, and missionaries, West struggles to reconcile his growing awareness of atrocities committed against native tribes with his role as a representative of imperial power.
Christopher Hampton’s searing play weaves together poetic retellings of indigenous myths, stark depictions of violence, and biting political commentary. Through a non-linear structure and ritualistic staging, “Savages” forces audiences to confront uncomfortable truths about racism, imperialism, and the human cost of so-called progress. The play’s unflinching examination of cultural genocide and moral compromise offers no easy answers, instead challenging viewers to grapple with their own role in perpetuating systems of oppression.
Cast & Creative
Cast
Rona Anderson
Cast
George Bailey
Cast
A.J. Brown
Cast
Terence Burns
Cast
Toni Conti
Cast
Lynda Dagley
Cast
Glyn Grain
Cast
Leonard Kavanagh
Cast
Thelma Kidger
Cast
Donna Louise
Cast
Eddi Nedari
Cast
Geoffrey Palmer
Cast
Michael Pennington
Cast
Paul Scofield
Cast
J.C Shepherd
Cast
Frank Singuleau
Cast
Gordon Sterne
Designer
Jocelyn Herbert
Designer