Powerful passion at Riverside

In June 2011, Ronaldo Abok’s life is in chaos.

In June 2011, Ronaldo Abok’s life is in chaos.

It should be a time for joyous celebration – South Sudan, the homeland he was forced from is about to become the world’s newest nation but Ronaldo is torn in too many directions.

Four Deaths In The Life Of Ronaldo Abok is the third installment in the True West Theatre season of independent theatre and is currently playing at the Riverside Theatre, Parramatta until Saturday, November 26.

Ronaldo Abok is studying filmmaking, working his part-time job at the cinema, ferrying Aunt Mary and her kids around town and visiting Uncle Atem in hospital. Even though Ronaldo’s certain he’s the next Quentin Tarantino, he can’t get his films off the ground because in Australia you need English to have a voice.

Ronaldo then meets Rachel – a girl who knows her mind but questions whether Ronaldo knows his. Will he be a Lost Boy forever, or will he find peace?

Four Deaths In The Life Of Ronaldo Abok is a funny, moving and beautifully uplifting new work from local playwright Ian Meadows, whose television writing credits include ‘Spirited’, ‘Offspring’ and ‘Slide’. This is Ian’s debut Sydney production.

At the heart of the work are a team of Southern Sudanese Australian artists who have passionately contributed stories, history, song and dance through a series of development workshops facilitated by Small Things Productions.

The performers bringing the work to life include Abraham Ajok, Akol Deng, Amer Achiek (‘The Slaves’), Awek Akech (‘My Name Is Sud’) and Johnson Ngor (‘Ben Hur – The Stadium Spectacular’).

Over the course of this year, True West Theatre has presented three assisted theatre productions in an inaugural season of work chosen to give a voice to Sydney’s west. The program encourages new Australian plays, drama and comedy, multimedia and hybrid theatre forms, devised performance, music theatre or physical theatre that is text based and culturally specific works.

Four Deaths In The Life Of Ronaldo Abok opened on Friday, November 18 at the Riverside Theatre in Parramatta at 7.30pm and runs till Saturday, November 26. Tickets are $25 for adults and $22 for concessions.

To book or for more information call 8839 3399 or visit www.riversideparramatta.com.au.