Nathan Harrison remembers being stuck in lockdown and watching the birds outside his window. Subscribe now for unlimited access . Login or signup to continue reading Inspired, he decided to begin writing about the feathered animals outside his window, which eventually became the show Birdsong of Tomorrow .
The show will be playing at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre over three nights beginning on Thursday, August 22 . "I remember looking at birds outside when the world was just feeling very small and it felt like everything was changing very quickly," he said. "Seeing birds and kind of being drawn to them as this animal that represents freedom in a lot of ways.
" Birdsong of Tomorrow is described as a nature documentary for the end of the world, Harrison describes it as a "show about birds". "It's a show about trying to find a sense of connection with the natural world and the people around us," he said. "Using birds as a way to do that, thinking about birds, these amazing creatures that are kind of around us every day and have song and a have a kind of cultural memory.
" The show features a collection of recordings of sounds which is part of Harrison's efforts to create a space which "feels thoughtful" and creates a "sense of presence and connection". 'Singing the wrong songs' The show ties what Harrison finds interesting about birds to how the world is changing. "An amazing bird is the regent honeyeater, which is critically endangered," he said.
"The thing that's beautiful and it's a tragedy is there are so few of them now that they're not learning the songs from each other properly. "So you have all these young regent honeyeaters that don't get to learn from their community and are singing the wrong songs trying to connect with their own species." The show also examines how society has changed other species of birds .
Cockatoos, for instance, now open wheelie bins and dismantle anti-perching architecture. "Even city birds sing at a different pitch because they get used to traffic noise and they get used to sort of adapting around that," Harrison said. "I think it's amazing that we have these big cities that are changing birds as well.
" Harrison is keen for people to change their habits. "Trying to rethink things that we don't even think about once and don't give a second look," he said. "It's a show that's trying to encourage a sense of wonder and reconnection.
"Even if you're not particularly into birds there's hopefully a sense that the world can offer a sense of hope." Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, covering the local community. Got a tip? Send it through to me at joel.
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He/Him Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, covering the local community. Got a tip? Send it through to me at joel.ehsman@austcommunitymedia.
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