OBSERVER: Garcon
Award-winning visual artist, spoken word poet, and storyteller Wani Toaishara brings his one-person show Garçon to Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre, as part of Darebin Arts Speakeasy’s season of boundary-pushing performances from July 16-20.
Recognised for his cross-disciplinary work exploring Black life, dislocation, and Indigeneity,Garçon offers an intimate and poignant journey through the streets and communities that shaped Wani’s boyhood in Auckland, New Zealand.
Garçon is a coming-of-age tale that immerses audiences in the vibrant yet challenging world of wani’s childhood.
From classroom antics and basketball games to the milk bars and garage hangouts of Ranui and Massey, the performance paints a vivid picture of young boys navigating the pressures of a world intent on turning them into men.
Through his storytelling, wani weaves moments of violence, precarity, and sexual assault with humour, friendship, and resilience.
Directed by acclaimed Congolese multidisciplinary artist Gideon Wilonja, the show brings a fresh perspective to the stage. Known for his ability to blur the lines between masculine and feminine aesthetics, Wilonja’s work centres Black and queer voices, creating a nuanced and bold production that challenges mainstream narratives.
“My hope is for audiences to see a nuanced view of the human experience, particularly when it comes to black and brown boys,” says Wani.
“By portraying characters as multifaceted, complicated individuals, challenging simplistic notions of good and evil, I hope to encourage empathy even for those we consider flawed characters.
“This interpersonal story can offer a deeply impactful and thought-provoking experience, encouraging introspection and discussion long after the performance ends.”
Wani Toaishara’s artistic career spans multiple mediums including photography, installation, and film, and his work has been recognised nationally and internationally. Among his many accolades, he was the 2019 Australian Poetry Slam champion and has won multiple prestigious art prizes, including the 2021 Darebin Art Prize.
Garçon continues this trajectory, celebrating Black life while also interrogating the complex social dynamics of urban spaces through wani’s personal history.
Performance Dates: July 16 – 29
Location: Northcote Townhall Arts Centre, 189 High St, Northcote
Price: $38 Full. $30 Conc. $33 Darebin Resident. $33 Group 4+. $20 Preview. $10 Blak Tix
Bookings: arts.darebin.vic.gov.au/Programs-and-opportunities/Programs/Speakeasy-presentations/garcon-by-wani-toaishara
Cheryl Threadgold
Pictured: Wani Toaishara presents Garçon
Image credit: J.M. Tubera