“My name is Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Aboud bin Laden al Qatani and tonight, ladies and gentlemen, I am going to show you how to change the world”
These are the lines that begin Knaïve Theatre’s production of “Bin Laden: The One Man Show”, performed by Sam Redway, and conceived in collaboration with the director Tyrrell Jones.
“Bin Laden” is a play designed to be controversial. It is designed to inflame arguments, passions, thoughts, biases, and possibly understanding with the audience. It is a play that understands that the exact subject it attempts to tackle will be edgy to most audiences, but it does not refrain away from this.
It is important to note that both the people on the creative team come from a position of White British backgrounds, and while it may seem like an odd choice to have a famous historical Islamic figure portrayed by a white man, the argument can be made that it is a deliberate creative choice to allow the the sensitive content of the performance to subvert redeveloped biases that might exist in the the audience member.
The play is designed as a continuous monologue, in a Ted Talk style presentation, following the life and career of Osama Bin Laden, from a youthful man in love, to a heroic freedom fighter, and lastly an enemy of the Western World. Every creative choice, from the use of Hollywood themes such as Lawrence of Arabia, to the bright spotlight lighting, to even classic hero poses, are each designed to manipulate the audience into possibly seeing Bin Laden as strangely idealistic figure, which is a shocking contrast to his usual depiction. And while it is necessary to note that it is most likely that the creative team do not see Bin Laden in this fashion, an audience member can not deny that their own emotions are changed with the classic dramatic techniques that is being utilised.
At the end of each performance there is a debate between the two creative members and a guest speaker, who on this night, was a Lecturer of Theatre and Performance studies from Sydney University. While it is admirable that this form of discussion and discourse is encouraged and fostered, one is left with the thought, that at what position of authority the conceptive artists have in dealing with such complex and intricate sociopolitical and historical ideas and events. I left the theatre with this question in my mind, and it can be said that the play had as a result succeeded in making me question my own thoughts and opinions. Stripped back of the performance, writing, staging, or even lighting, the play had been designed to make you question your preconceived notions. And whether or not you enjoy this play or its controversial subject, it may make you do just that.
Bin Laden: The One Man show is a performance that should be seen. Whether you love it or hate it vehemently, it is purely for the sake of having these questions brought to your face, and then being dared to speak your mind in front of everyone, that this show is a work of amazing thought provoking theatre.
Oliver Morassut, Theatre Now Sydney
