A creative call for compassion for those in need is being brought to the stage in Footscray this week.
Vivid, a new play by Hoa Pham, traces the story of Khan, a Vietnamese girl with schizophrenia who sees the ghost of her grandmother.
The deeply personal play was inspired by Pham’s grandmother, Ba, who had schizophrenia and saw her deceased husband and choruses of cats.
The author, playwright and psychologist has drawn on her experience working with clients who experience psychoses, including delusions concerning refugees.
“Ironically, the way Australia treats refugees is like that of a paranoid delusion – the government is persecutory and is out to get them,” Pham said.
The work follows on from her play Silence and novellas Wave and The Other Shore.
Director Wolf Heidecker said what might look like an illness to some might be spiritual sophistication to others.
Vivid will be performed at Footscray Community Arts Centre from 7.30pm nightly until Saturday.
Tickets $22/$18 via www.trybooking.com.
