A gut-punching performance that will leave you in splits.
The London International Festival of Theatre opened its doors on June 5 at the South Bank Centre in London with Cliff Cardinal’s Land Acknowledgement or As You Like It. LIFT is a daring theatre festival rooted deeply in the idea of making it an unforgettable and invigorating experience, with your adrenaline going through performances from around the world. I went to see Land Acknowledgement or As You Like It with absolutely no prior notions, and this performance swayed me to give it a standing ovation. Pardon my naivety to not know how celebrated this performance is and the excellence that Cliff Cardinal puts in the dialogue.
As the title suggests, this performance defines the problematic and important topic of ‘Land Acknowledgment’ in the form of a monologue where Cardinal addresses sensitive issues of mistaken identities and the complexes within society. As defined, ‘Land Acknowledgment’ is a ‘formal statement that recognizes and respects Indigenous Peoples as traditional stewards of this land and the enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories.’ Cardinal, in his satirical dialogue with the audience, questions racism and colored superiority within the global context, issues emerging due to the residues of colonialism. Within many layers of his monologue, he raises themes of ecological imbalance, misinterpreted histories, cultural identity, and class distinction.
However, a part of the title is inspired by Shakespeare’s play ‘As You Like It’, which also underlines the commonality in the themes, that change is inevitable in this ever-evolving society and celebrates the ability for people to change for a better tomorrow.
In his performance, Cardinal is playing with language by sharing his lived experiences in Canada, highlighting the challenges that indigenous people have been experiencing while they fight to claim their home. This deep and poignant story-telling reminded me of what Philip Mason mentioned in The Psychology of Colonization: ‘You taught me language, and my profit on’t is, I know how to curse’, questioning the interpersonal changes. This performance is an act of resistance that also raises questions about the ethos of inclusivity and diversity in the institutional setup. Having said that, with no emphasis on the set or costume, Cardinal manages to get the room full of audience to break into laughter time and again with his humor.
Cliff Cardinal will be repeating this performance until June 9; it is definitely worth a watch. The London International Festival of Theatre is on until July 27, 2024.