Under Your Thumb

“Wouldn’t life be easy if it was all just black and white, but it’s not , there’s so much grey, isn’t there? Where we can get lost, confused, stumble down the wrong alley, take a wrong turn and end up abusing each other. Why can’t we control ourselves? Are we capable of change?”

This opening speech of Under Your Thumb sets the stage for a swath of though provoking vignettes depicting issues of abuse experienced by young people. Whether it be physical, sexual, psychological, emotional or spiritual, the impact it has on an individual’s life is long lasting which in turn affects our society. Funded by Country Arts Support Program Regional Arts NSW , Northern Rivers Community Foundation and supported by Brunswick Picture House, Under Your Thumb was yet another youth audience directed choice for BYT . During the research and development phase representatives from the headspace Tweed Heads and Women’s Resource Service, Mullumbimby, assisted with consultations and an informative training session. BYT combined this with a survey, interviews, online information from websites such as Youth Action and Reach Out.com and personal experiences to create this original production.

After a successful tour of local High schools with many audience members rating it as the “Best ever!” production, BYT delivered a public performance at the Brunswick Picture House. Check out the promo video below!

The Company wish to acknowledge the sourced work by Mila Cuda and Jessica Romoff for their slam poem “Exes”, Emmeline May for Consent and Tea and Jamie Varon for “This is how we date now” used in Under Your Thumb. They wish to thank Charlie Gill, Lighting Design and light and sound operator, Myla Yeomans, Graphic designer, and previous BYT member Charlotte Dodds for choreography. Mike and Marion Russo for props and costume items and the many friends, supports and BYT family members who helped make it happen!