Project Xan

Project Xan, presented by Jedda Productions at PICA, is a highly moving, insightful, documentary theatre piece, which examines rape culture. Sensitively presented, by a clearly tight-knit ensemble, it is a wonderful inspiration for discussion and debate.

Project Xan is built around the experiences of Xan Fraser, who is also one of the cast. At the centre of the production are her testimony and evidence presented at a criminal trial in 1981, after Xan was raped, at just 12 years old. The show also deals with contemporary discussions, attitudes and experiences with rape and rape culture.

Xan Fraser is an inspirational woman, whose story is gut-wrenchingly horrible. She is also an excellent story-teller, whose experiences, moulded by author/director Hellie Turner and dramaturg Dr. David Williams, make compelling viewing.

Young Xan is hauntingly played by Daisy Coyle, who although 20, looks convincingly 12 and brings a huge amount of naivety and vulnerability to the role, in an outstanding performance.

An organically tight ensemble is completed by Siobhan Dow-Hall, Marko Javonovic and Nick MacLaine, playing a plethora of rules and moving beautifully between scenes.

Designer Lawrie Cullen-Tait combines a late 1970s roller rink (where young Xan is clearly free and happy), with a courtroom - an interesting and provoking juxtaposition. There are some clever choices in costuming, that are best experienced. Chris Donnelly has created a sensitive lighting design, while Ash Gibson Greig’s composition and sound design blends so well that it feels almost subliminal.

Parents of young people (the producers recommend 15+) should definitely take their families to see this show. It raises some excellent issues for people of multiple generations and should probably be compulsory viewing for senior high school students. It is also just darn interesting theatre.

Kimberley Shaw

Photographer: Daniel James Grant