Oral History Program

For the last thirteen years BYDS has been organising and facilitating oral history projects in the area. These projects have all led to publication: Recollections - the Bankstown Oral History Project A Multicultural Perspective, 1992.

“The Conquering of the Wall and other women’s stories.” A Women’s and girls project, 1994 and The Bankstown Oral History Project stage 2, 2001.

These projects have been funded from very sources. The Australia Council for the Arts, The Federal Department of Immigration and Local Government and most recently the Centenary of Federation Community Fund.

All of these projects ‘mutated’ into other areas: a local writers group, and two theatre pieces, a photographic project.

“Fast Cars and Tractor Engines” is a highly acclaimed theatre piece directed by Roslyn Oades, a long term BYDS collaborator. This piece of innovative ‘verbatim’ style theatre has been in various stages of development since 2003.

In 2005, Urban Theatre Projects, ‘picked up” this show and provided the resources for Roslyn to develop the show into a full blown 50 minute production. The show recevied a very positive review in the SMH (7/9/05).

In 2006, the show toured to Riverside Theatres, Parramatta, Campbelltown Arts Centre and Bankstown Town Hall.

Check the Urban Theatre Projects website for details.

www.urbantheatre.com.au

6-8 Old Town Centre Plaza, Bankstown | Ph: (02) 9793 8324 | Fax: (02) 9796 4581