Above: William Yang performed his newest performance piece at the Roslyn Packer Theatre. Featured image and image above by William Yang.
It is said ‘a picture tells a thousand words’. One of William Yang’s signature live-theatre sideshow events combines his well-crafted, candid, nuanced images with thousands of words and live bespoke soundtrack.
Milestone follows the successful performance piece formula Yang has used for decades. He gives a large scale commentary in images, music and words to explore a specific story or topic -such as Chinese history in rural Australia or a retrospective of gay Sydney, or the sexualisation the Asian human form.
This show turns the spotlight on the life journey of octanagerian Yang himself-celebrating in typical no- holds-barred fashion his career, the environments, people and pressures shaping or preserving him.
Music by Elena Kats-Chernin is as fresh and expressive as always, highlighting the twists and turns it the story beautifully. It enters for interludes, to accompany a slide sequence, to succinctly develop an emotion already so well described and to also at times be a soundscape over which Yang speaks.
The level of intelligence, humour and humanity that imbues this work is instantly endearing. Talking honestly about one’s life for ninety minutes is no mean feat. Yang does it colourfully, thoughtfully and with the confidence of experience plus pride.
Yang’s tendency to take us to unexpected places in his photography is further developed here. Intersecting, undulating structures within the finely swooping story include topics and bold imagery concerning police cover ups or disinterest in the murder of a Chinese ancestor in
Dimbulah. Underground gay Sydney in the 70s, 80s and the distribution of Australian-Born- Chinese Yang’s family across the globe are covered.
Mardi Gras, HIV, AIDS and Marriage Equality are key elements which are spoken about bravely, sans censorship. these discussions using shapshots from Yang’s invited and personal involvement. His is a confronting forensic tracing of the scenes, hearts and heated heads involved.
We are taken right inside his blood relatives, kindred spirits from cultural or sexuality communities and encouraged to recognise humanity from our own shared groups and environments.
Yang’s joyous, expressive and direct work still educates, shocks, tugs at the heartstrings. Here in Milestone it is so elegantly described with excellent timing plus unapologetic elaborations of the frozen intensities. he always includes us with explanation of the quick shutter work or longer portraits alike.
As every memoir should do, there is poignant reference to the blurred or confusing, the difficult or heartbreaking. We follow and receive explanations as an outsider looking in on a life but also are welcomed to share joys, fears, explanation of choice.
There are moments of censure for current political correctness and a pleasing intolerance of useless reaction or society’s past mistakes. Grief, health profiles and personal hurts are shared humbly and openly.
Joy spills over us and the hardest sharing is still performed with vocal colour and exuberant calm that a full life led affords any speaker skilled or concerned with sharing truth and gratitude for friends as well as family with all its inescapable dramas.
This popular and successful performance model-which Yang has mentored many in adopting is a clear, entertaining and consummate celebration in a live story event of thousands of words plus images.
Milestone is an accessible, standing ovation worthy must for audience to experience this Festival. Yang enriches is as Sydneysiders or global humans as he shares what has been achieved, rejoices in what we have rather than have not and how to gather these positives
together so well in a multimedia performance piece.
This tribute to talent and this local legend’s humanity is superbly relevant for this city and time. In its electic live event version it was a gem in a bright Sydney Festival crown for 2025. It will hopefully tour well past our local sensibilities or be filmed for future access.
