Controversy is weird.
It was controversial at the time for Landon Dann to write a play that, for the first time, saw Aboriginal people as having complex stories and emotions, a forward-thinking idea.
At the time of La Boite staging this play, it wasn't widely considered controversial for white people to portray Aboriginal people on stage. Which of course is shocking today because we know better.
We know representation matters. And today In Beauty It Is Finished is controversial because of how dated the depictions of Aboriginal people are.
That progression from daring to dated is weird. And now, to continue this progression, we are staging a reading of this work with an all First Nations cast. Even the white characters will be played by Mob.
Is that controversial? I hope so.
Aidan Rowlingson, Director
La Boite Encores | In Beauty It is Finished 2025
