The Campaign

The Campaign exudes warmth, humour and optimism. All bitterness is eschewed and the culmination, celebratory.

This is an important play. Many young people today will not have been aware of events of the late 80’s and 90’s which lead to the repeal of legislation discriminatory to the LGBTIQ community and yet these same young people enjoy a world that is more tolerant and inclusive as a result.

The Campaign is verbatim theatre. Playwright Campion Decent uses first hand transcriptions organised in a chronological and thematic sequence. Six actors play multiple roles. The characters are announced and quickly become familiar with the aid of small personal properties and excellent characterisation, bearing in mind that these voices are not “characters” at all but individuals who lived through the events themselves. These are real people sharing themselves and their stories. It is especially poignant to have Robert Jarman in the cast, occasionally playing himself. The scene in which Jarman revisits his cell time becomes a reflection of other injustices which still beset society. This is one of many powerful moments in the play.

The lighting plays a significant part in creating focus on individual’s stories and yet the piece is very much an ensemble piece. Some choreographed moments work very well but the reworking of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Modern Major General was a bit hard to follow and may have been lost on some audience members.

What was endured by the gay community before law reform was shameful and abhorrent but the personal stories are inspirational. The legacy is a society in which no person need be vilified as lesser than any other human being for any reason. These events were significant for Tasmanians and internationally. Anyone absent from the state or possibly too young to be aware of these events, make sure you see this important piece of theatre.

Anne Blythe-Cooper

Photographer: Richard Parkinson.