Atomicoz update - 24-09-01

We are currently redesigning this website and making it more fun so comeback very soon. We will be adding photos and storys and other stuff. We have also flashed up our nuclear map. If you have any ideas or suggestions for our website or if you want to share your experiences of atomicoz email the webmaster :-)

Here are the lyrics to our song 21st century

On the road....

It was only 4 weeks from the day the decision was made for the Atomic Oz Roadshow to go ahead , and the morning when the eight committed core group set out in convoy across the land. In that short time, countless phone calls and emails were made, furious fundraising took place, the script revised, new music written, and the first edition of the new Atomic Oz rehearsed at East Perthâs City Farm, and performed at Perth Cultural Centre Amphitheatre, UWA and Murdoch University.

On Sunday Septembr 2, the two vans affectionately known as ãAzzyä and ãWinnieä departed Perth, jam-packed full of actor-vists and their personal gear, and a heap of props including costumes, a box of explosives, PA, drumkit and an oversized bomb. The mad dash across the Nullabor took two days for Winnie, and two and a half for Azzy, who decided to have a rest (broke down!) in Caiguna. Nonetheless, Atomic Oz hit Adelaide on Tuesday September 4.

We met up with the Keepers of Lake Eyre that night, who were busy organising the Fire for Water festival to fundraise for their campaign to shut down Roxby Downs uranium mine. The festival, at which Atomic Oz were to make our first appearance, was rained out, and has been rescheduled for November 23 ö 25. Our Adelaide co-ordinator TammyJo had been working hard at spreading the Atomic Oz word, and after four rehearsals we had the show running smoothly, complete with our Adelaide recruits.

Our first Adelaide performance took place at Flinders Uni on Wednesday 12 September. The performance space itself presented a few challenges, including large concrete poles in the middle of centre stage, but the performance went smoothly and the somewhat indifferent university coffee crowd were visibly amused, if not moved.

The Festival Centre Amphitheatre provided a more suitable, if not perfect, performance space on Saturday 15, once all props and backdrops were extra-reinforce to deal with the galeforce winds. Over 100 people attended, Greenpeace celebrated their 30th anniversary, and feedback was positive.

That night the cast celebrated in the Adelaide hills at the home of the lovely Rob and Tamara, whose house we stayed at during our second week in Adelaide. Many tunes were made, much curry eaten and many beverages consumed.

As a result, there were a few bleary-eyed fuzzy heads on Sunday, the day of Atomic Ozâs completely unannounced, spontaneous performance at Glenelg beach in the aftermath of the City to Surf ãFun Runä. This performance was pure majick at work! A power supply was located, props and stage set up on the boulevard and the performance was underway before the unexpecting passers-by know what had hit them. This was arguably the best performance to date, with energy levels boosted by the ease with which we were able to reclaim a prominent public space and offer the people an alternative to their routine Sunday strolls.

Atomic Oz taking it to the streets, getting the message out there! Feedback from all performances so far has been incredible. Atomic Oz has made hundreds laugh and cry, with many blown away simply by being exposed to aspects of Australiaâs nuclear industry that they were completely unaware of.

While the aim of the tour is to educate people on the nuclear issue and, dare we say, convert a few of the masses(!), we have realized that an equally important part of what we are doing is to refresh and inspire those who are already active on nuclear issues, extending the network and offering solidarity.

Thankyou to all the amazing people doing amazing work to stop the nuclear cycle; to the Keepers of Lake Eyre, to TammyJo, to all the Adelaide crew who contributed their time and talent, and to Emma and Kristina, Tamara and Rob for putting us up (and putting up with us) in their homes.

Next: Atomic Oz hits Melbourne!!!