Detention: A Story of Connection and Courage
Detention follows two young people from very different worlds who find each other in the most unlikely of places.
Sima, a 14-year-old Hazara refugee, flees with her family from a Queensland detention centre after their visa is rejected, hoping to reach her uncle in Leeton, NSW. On the run, she hides in the boys’ toilet at the local high school.
Dan, a 13-year-old from a marginalised caravan park community, discovers a chained, dying dog. When his school goes into lockdown, he escapes the classroom to save the dog – and ends up in the same boys’ toilets as Sima. Here, their shared desire for safety and a sense of home sparks an unexpected connection.
Directed by Randa Sayed and performed by a dynamic ensemble of five, Detention combines movement and text in a poetic, fast-paced, and sometimes humorous production that will keep young audiences riveted.
Based on Tristan Bancks’ novel, the play explores themes of displacement, belonging, and shared humanity. Developed in collaboration with Hazara artists and young people, Detention uses theatre as a powerful platform for truth-telling and conversation.
Commissioned by Monkey Baa, co-written by Callan Purcell and Kobra Sayyadi, and directed by Randa Sayed, Detention is a gripping theatrical experience not to be missed.
Recommended for ages 10-13