Our new Fringe Fan saw Becoming Benno last night at The Dungeon..
Unexpectedly detained at Sydney Airport and separated from his wife and daughter while migrating to Australia, Ben Voss comes face-to-face with Australia's notoriously tough Border Force and the chaotic, emotionally charged reality of moving countries later in life.
Set entirely in one room, Becoming Benno is a heartfelt one-person comedy that explores the challenges of leaving home, the bonds that keep us connected, and the hopes that drive us forward.
A lovable South African, Ben and his family have made the courageous decision to pick up sticks and leave behind their well-established life not out of necessity, but in search of a clean, fresh, friendly, and SAFE future in Australia.
Voss mixes fearless satire, laugh-out-loud humour, and heartfelt vulnerability, his facial expressions carrying us from the terror of possibly never reaching his family on the other side to the immediate, overflowing joy of a simple phone call with his daughter.
He also switches seamlessly between a cast of characters a quintessentially Australian Border Force officer, a wise Indian fellow detainee, and a hilariously outspoken British cleaner each offering fresh perspectives on what it means to belong in Australia.
I was completely absorbed, cheering Benno on at every turn, and deeply moved by his story. While deeply personal, it also leaves the audience reflecting on migration more broadly the courage, grief, and resilience behind the profoundly disruptive experience of leaving home and starting anew.
You can catch the last show tonight at 7.30pm at The Dungeon.
festival.newcastlefringe.com.au/events/becoming-benno/.
Images shown may not represent the original source or owner of the image. Coast Box Office does not warrant the accuracy or validity of News articles and advises visitors to always check the article source for more details.
