With special guest:
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Tania de Jong AM
… in conversation with Bill Kable
Something unusual for listeners today. Our guest is Tania de Jong who tells us about a new production called Driftwood The Musical. Tania happens to be the creator and producer of Driftwood The Musical as well as being one of the stars on stage. For her choice of song we have the special pleasure of bringing you a song Tania wrote and performed herself.
The story of Driftwood concerns Tania’s grandparents who survived Nazi atrocities in Vienna and eventually became artistic treasures in their adopted country Australia.
It is testament to Tania’s high standing in the artistic community that she was able to attract a truly impressive cast, a musical virtuoso and a team of experts to do something unusual in our country, namely to put on a new home-grown musical. Tania is used to facing obstacles in her career but nothing could stop this story being told on the stage.
In the audience we share the terror of the knock on the door by Nazi officers; we feel the desperation as the small family is forced to flee their homeland to go to an unknown future if they are lucky enough to survive. Tania tells us that at times the script brings her and the actors to tears as they put themselves in the situations that Tania’s grandparents faced. It becomes even a bit more real when Tania tells us how she wears her grandmother’s earrings in every show.
And yet the performance is not all gloom. Apart from the music that is at times totally uplifting there are some moments that are inspiring. Perhaps it is the spirit and resilience of the characters that you remember most.
And there are many things to learn. In writing some of the script and lyrics to the songs Tania is clearly emphasising the importance of family connections. The enduring power of family love survived a move to the other side of the world and a gap of nearly 30 years between family members who survived.
Tania is now working on taking Driftwood to other parts of Australia after its world premiere in Melbourne and a season in Sydney. The musical is highly recommended if it comes to a town near you. Next stop may well be New York.
Let us hope that the message gets out to as many people as possible that family is perhaps the most important force we can raise against racism and the evil that the world witnessed when Nazi Germany turned against its own people if they did not go to the same church or follow the same rituals.
Tania de Jong AM
Tania de Jong AM is a trail-blazing Australian soprano, global speaker, award-winning social entrepreneur, philanthropist, creative innovation catalyst, spiritual journey woman and storyteller. Tania is one of Australia’s most successful female entrepreneurs and innovators having developed 6 businesses and 4 charities including The Umbrella Foundation.
The Umbrella Foundation is committed to telling stories that matter through the innovative use of music, theatre and other artforms, raising consciousness and inspiring generosity, diversity, inclusion, harmony and compassion. The Umbrella Foundation recently presented world premiere seasons of Driftwood The Musical leading to international interest in the acclaimed production. If you would like to support the work of the Foundation please go to umbrellaaustralia.org or search Driftwood The Musical. If you are in Melbourne and would like to see 1930’s Vienna life authentically reproduced go to the Duldig Studio, 92 Burke Road Malvern East.
Song selection by our guest: Flying Free by Tania de Jong and Anthony Barnhill
Note: This program is an encore presentation of the one aired on 6 July 2023.