Sydney school performance production company Iconic Performances, which prides itself on its “hilarious British colonisation” show, has been called out for completely ignoring indigenous history, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.
More than 600 people have signed a petition on change.org, requesting that the show include indigenous content, spurred on by members of the indigenous community having seen a bus advertising the show, which prominently featured a British red-coat pointing a gun at pedestrians.
The production’s award-winning, and most successful show has toured to more than 2000 primary schools throughout Australia, and relives the voyage of the First Fleet and beyond – but of course, featuring no trace of any indigenous people whatsoever.
Actor turned producer Steve Baltzois has seemingly denied any wrongdoing, and said the show was “balanced and accurate in depicting the life and trials of the convicts and the tyranny suffered at the hands of British soldiers”.
The company is also working on a new show called “Drum Story”, which will naturally feature white actors in blackface playing enslaved members of African tribes, as depicted above – because that's clearly what our community both wants and needs. So far Mr Baltzois has, very surprisingly, declined to comment on this.
Testimonials on the company's website highlight the troupe's professionalism, with one school really enjoying a performance called “Hilarious Chinese Miners”. Yep, absolutely no racist undertones with any of this here at all, right? Just do better, guys.
