This week five AMES students from our South Hub staged performances of a show written by them and fellow students titled ‘If I Ran the Zoo’.

The play, based on the Dr Seuss book, uses animals as metaphors for human characteristics and investigates solutions to global problems.

Through a colourful mix of dialogue and movement, the cast – four from Afghanistan and one from Cambodia – conveyed the themes of identity, dislocation and freedom.

‘If I Ran the Zoo’ is the result of a collaboration between AMES and La Mama Theatre and was performed at the Walker Street Gallery in Dandenong on Thursday and
La Mama’s Courthouse Theatre in Carlton on Friday.

Congratulations to the students who, in overcoming language barriers, have delivered a thoughtful and energetic performance.

Special thanks must go to Caitlin Dullard and Anna Loewendahl from La Mama for all their support in producing the play as well as to AMES youth staff. La Mama, who AMES has partnered with for nine years, also held 10 weeks of drama workshops with all South Hub youth students.

‘If I Ran the Zoo’ was supported by the Victorian Government through the Engage! Program.

For more information on this story, please contact Margot Hennessey on (03) 8558 8800.