Lara Thoms & Samara Hersch

Do you know the words to your National Anthem beyond the first verse? And do really know the meaning of the words you are singing? In collaboration with a group of young activists, the Australian theatre producers Samara Hersch en Lara Thoms present their latest performance Please Stand. Together with this brand-new cast, they explore the history, mythology, rituals and politics of National Anthems from around the world.

Please Stand is the next work in a series of projects by Samara Hersch and Lara Thoms that engage young people to explore the performance of alternative histories. Their work undermines the notion of adults as experts, bringing out the voices of young people in the retelling and re-shaping of national stories and identities. Both artists share an interest in socially and politically engaged performance making, often working with non-professional artists to create space for new perspectives. Their recent work, We All Know What's Happening, made in collaboration with seven young people, told the story of Australia's ongoing detention of refugees in the Pacific. This work was the winner of the ZKB Patronage Prize and Audience Award 2019 in Zurich.