Sex, lies, greed, corruption. Truth is more entertaining than fiction.
The Table of Knowledge shows that politics can indeed be stranger, and more entertaining, than fiction. And for Noarlunga audiences, there will be a familiar face making a cameo appearance.
In February 2008, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) began investigating allegations of corruption involving local developers and former staff of Wollongong Council, an investigation termed ‘Operation Atlas’. The resultant scandal had reverberations far beyond expectations, suggesting entanglements with members of the NSW State Government, and culminating with the sacking of the entire Council.
The ICAC investigation exposed sexual obsessions, envelopes full of cash, and a secret cabal of powerful men that met regularly around a plastic table outside a local kebab shop, described by them as the ‘table of knowledge’.
Sydney Theatre Company‘s Helpmann Award winning theatre troupe “version 1.0” knows a good story when they see one in the headlines. The company has taken this story, which is more akin to a Hollywood script than council politics, and created a theatre performance played by Arky Michael, Jane Phegan, Yana Taylor and Kym Vercoe that will have you taking back all the things you said about politics being boring.
The script was almost entirely provided by the actual words of the central characters as recorded in the inquiry transcripts. Version 1.0 also researched the media reportage of this scandal to create a frank and theatrically innovative production that covers the account of the inquiry and its subsequent fallout.
The Table of Knowledge tells a universal story based on real events. In all, there have been at least 11 councils sacked in NSW from 1997-2008, and 32 corruption inquiries since 1989. Country Arts SA Chief Executive Officer Steve Saffell said: “Sydney Theatre Company Version 1.0 is well known for taking contemporary issues and making them into a riveting yarn. They prove the old adage that truth can be stranger than fiction.”
Season: June 21, 7.30pm at the Hopgood Theatre, Noarlunga
Suitable for ages 15+
Phone the Hopgood Theatre on (08) 8207 3977 for bookings
Photo credit: Heidrun Lohr
In the photo (L-R): Arky Michael, Jane Phegan and Kym Vercoe
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