Free-doom Down Under ~ OzAsia Festival ~ Review

[Theatre, AUS premiere] Free-doom Down Under Sulochana Dissanayake and Dinuka Liyanawatte Thur 23 Oct, 2025 Breakout Space at The Mill   It is always wonderful to hear outbursts of spontaneous laughter break out in a show and continue to grow stronger throughout. But it’s been quite a while since I’ve witnessed the opposite, someone brought to tears from the heightened emotions generated by ‘Free-doom Down Under.’ This soul-baring performance is a deeply personal account, and at the same time a desperately needed expose of some huge gaps in our immigration system. As Australians in possibly the most culturally diverse country in the world, we take for granted that the government has this sorted. We assume that our vast public service has streamlined the process, given the huge numbers coming in each year. The reality is far removed. After an excruciating, expensive and exhausting process of proving you have the skills that are in high demand here, this family, like so many others, arrive to find nothing to match that bureaucratic enthusiasm. Nada. No links or introductions, nix, niente. There are not only the challenges of fitting into an ‘alien’ culture, of leaving behind family connections, and the loneliness before new friendships develop. Hardest of all are the mental challenges faced when they realise that it is ‘sink or swim.’ All the hype about their skills is worthless here. Sulochana Dissanayake studied theatre in the USA, so language is no barrier. Her rich heritage is deeply rooted in the rituals of her native country, where they promote communal healing. And she is thrilled to embrace the opportunities that a new beginning offers. Together with her family, Sulochana documents the joys of discovering new ways of working, of reveling in the feeling of freedom, as well as the Kafkaesque maze they must navigate to find any kind of employment, sometimes more resembling a minefield. At one stage the spotlight is switched onto the audience, inviting us to reflect on our own experiences. The chatter and the activity of involvement in a meaningful ritual installation allowed those who chose to participate the chance to become part of this healing process. Storytelling is the oldest form of theatre, and the main modality in each section of this work. Its raw power is evident in the responses evoked in the audience. This show poses a pressing question: ‘Why do we go to so much effort and expense to bring skilled migrants here, without providing proper assistance in the transition, both before and after they come, to ensure that those skills are utilised?’ Having left a land where plentiful elephants are all out in the open, they are left wondering why no one else can see this white elephant in the room. This important piece of theatre urges us to remove our blinkers and better understand the lives of those living among us, who wish only to contribute and enrich our culture. 4.5 Stars David Cronin Free-doom Down Under continues at The Mill at various times…