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1973

Savages

Written by Christopher Hampton

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.

Director(s)

Robert Kidd

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

Andrew Sanders

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