Photo Flash: Perth Alien Invasion Explores High Stakes of Humanity

ALIENS have landed in post-apocalyptic Perth, taking all our water and slowly clearing Earth of all humans.

It's all part of Know Your Enemy, the latest self-devised production from The Actors' Hub, putting humanity under the microscope.

The human race has been unable to communicate with the aliens and have no idea why they are here. The play explores whether humanity can negotiate its way out of death or whether the two races will ultimately destroy each other.

"When humans are placed under pressure, the stakes become very high and we aren't always proud of the outcome," director Amanda Crewes said. "So many people disgruntled with political decisions of late are happy to complain - but not actually motivated to take action. Is it because they're afraid they couldn't really do a better job? If push came to shove, what sort of person would they be if they were thrust into a position where their decisions affected everyone else? Know Your Enemy explores these ideas, obviously using the post-apocalyptic future to explore the allegory. Sometimes, the best way to illustrate a point is to leave real world settings and put it in a different to context to fully drive that point home."

After graduating from the WA Academy of Performing Arts in 1998, Crewes went on to work professionally with Handzon, Kompany M, Melbourne's Playbox and Barking Gecko Theatres and the Perth Theatre Company, as well as several professional independent theatre groups in shows such as Italian American Reconciliation, Wolf Lullaby and Conundrum.

With more than 20 years' experience teaching and directing, she set up The Actors' Hub in 2012 to provide a serious focus for those wanting to learn more about the acting profession.

"The main challenge with Know Your Enemy is to make the characters relatable to everyone so the audience can see themselves in that situation," Crewes said. "Despite the setting, humans are still humans with all their fears, hopes, anxieties and strengths. Throughout history, there are hundreds of people who, when put under pressure, act in an extreme way - whether good or bad. This play explores those aspects of humanity and just what people might be capable of when there is extreme risk and jeopardy."

Know Your Enemy plays at 7pm November 17 and 18. Tickets are $30, $25 concession - book at www.trybooking.com/STPM.

The Actors' Hub is at 129 Kensington Street, East Perth.

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