Cranes is a moving depiction of the personal cost of activism, delving into identity, adulthood, the suppression of dissent, and the brutality of the criminal justice system. Inspired by Demi Wilson-Smith’s life-altering encounter attending her first protest and being in the wrong place at the wrong time, this debut play celebrates the heroes who do not get commemorated by statues – at least not at first. Following its initial showcase last year at SEEN Festival, the production returns with further development work as a fully-realised show.
It’s 2010. Summer has just turned eighteen. She’s lucky enough to have the rest of her life to look forward to. She has always dreamed of being a photographer – but it’s hard to dream about the future when the world around you is on fire. What is there to look forward to exactly? The solution? Change the world. Duh. By going to a protest increasing student fees, obviously.
Summer throws herself into her first ever protest, and has the best day of her life, literally. She knows this one will go down in history. This has got to change things – she can feel it.
And she’s right. It changes everything. Just not in the way she expects.
Director: Merle Wheldon
Presented as part of The Ryan Calais Cameron Season.
