Presented with University of Melbourne Arts and Culture | A Belvoir St Theatre and Kurinji Co-Production
Counting and Cracking
எண்ணிக்கை, இல்லையேல் கையோங்கு ගණන් නොගන්නේ නම් ගණන් කරන්න
By S.Shakthidharan with Eamon Flack
- Theatre
- Premiere
- Sitting
Approx 3.5 hours (incl. 2 intervals)
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A vibrant, three-act epic follows four generations over five decades from Colombo to Australia and tests the complex strength of family love.
It begins with Radha and her son Siddartha on the banks of Sydney’s Georges River, scattering Radha’s mother’s ashes—their final, physical link to Sri Lanka’s turbulent history. Then an unexpected call from Colombo brings the past rushing back.
Counting and Cracking is a true family saga that follows four generations from 1956 to 2004—through family secrets, love and upheaval.
Nineteen performers from six countries play 50 different characters. Incense swirls. Bare feet crisscross the sandy stage. Wisecracking Tamil and Sinhalese intertwines with English, in communal acts of translation.
Apah, Rhada’s grandfather, wants equality but is taught early on that democracy is “the counting of heads, within certain limits, and the cracking of heads beyond those limits.” By the end, we’ve learned the deep truths behind that Colombo mystery, on the other end of the line.
“It's a story about reconciliation: between parents and children, between neighbours and enemies, between your new home and your old home, between society and its institutions. ”
Credits: Brett Boardman
Credits: Brett Boardman
Credits: Brett Boardman
Credits: Brett Boardman
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Artistic Team
Writer and Associate Director
S. Shakthidharan
Director and Associate Writer
Eamon Flack
Cast
Rodney Afif, Prakash Belawadi, Antonythasan Jesuthasan, Nadie Kammallaweera, Ahi Karunaharan, Abbie-Lee Lewis, Gandhi McIntyre, Radhika Mudaliyar, Shiv Palekar, Dushan Philips, Sukhbir Singh Walia, Kaivu Suvarna, Nipuni Sharada, Rajan Velu, Sukania Venugopal
Musicians
Kranti Kiran Mudigonda, Janakan Raj, Venkhatesh Sritharan
Costume and Cultural Advisor, Choreographer
Anandavalli
Set and Costume Designer
Dale Ferguson
Lighting Designer
Damien Cooper
Sound Designer and Composer
Stefan Gregory
Supporters
A Belvoir St Theatre Production
Co-produced with Kurinji
Originally Co-Produced with Co-Curious
Co-commissioned by Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals Inc, Sydney Festival, Adelaide Festival and Belvoir St Theatre.
RISING and the University of Melbourne would like to acknowledge Sri Lankan Airlines, Amora Hotel Riverwalk, The Bowness Family Foundation, Linda Herd and Fiona Menzies for their generous support.
Belvoir Theatre thanks Playking Foundation and Penelope Seidler for their support of Counting and Cracking’s Melbourne season, and to the visionary individuals who have made a landmark contribution to Australian theatre.
Image Credits
Image Credit: Geraint Lewis
Brett Boardman