CabaretInterdisciplinary / Multi-mediaLive Music (Contemporary)

Sparrows of Kabul

Red Chair
Share
Photo by Geoffrey Dunn
About the work

An extraordinary song cycle about Australia’s Afghanistan mission from the dust of Uruzgan to the fall of Kabul.

Fred Smith and band present this extraordinary song cycle on Australia’s involvement in Afghanistan. Fred was there at the beginning in Uruzgan Province and returned to work from Kabul International Airport on the difficult evacuation. His epitaph for the mission is “it was what it was”.

With a carefully curated combination of song, story and projected images, Smith transports the audience to valleys and cities of Afghanistan. Audience members are left sitting in stunned silence having been gently infused with a sober understanding of the experiences of Australian soldiers on the ground in Uruzgan and the courage of thousands of Afghans who braved the human logjams outside the gates of Kabul Airport in a last-ditch dash for freedom.

Performances of this concert have received rave reviews:

“A beautiful retelling of Australia’s Afghanistan experience”
Adrienne Francis, ABC 666, Saturday Breakfast,

“Finely observed snapshots of a harsh, sad and funny reality…In concert he has a knack for balancing drama and humour…towering artistic achievement”
John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald

“Fred Smith is an Australian national treasure. Diplomat, philosopher, poet and raconteur his songs reverberate with the prophetic voice of humanity…an extraordinary, wonderful and heart-uplifting concert.”
Peter Wilkins, Canberra Critics Circle




Details

Cabaret

Interdisciplinary / Multi-media

Live Music (Contemporary)

General

Young Adults

Senior Adults

Military/veteran communities; Folk & Country Music fans; Refugee/migrant support groups

Late Secondary16 - 17 years
Adult18+ years

From 2025

Until 2029



#

Reviews

“I found the whole experience as moving as any concert I have attended.”

"excellent musicality to poignant and clever dialogue, to deep emotional portrayals of the plight of the Afghani people and Australian defence forces...first hand insight and truthtelling. An incredibly moving experience…"

“Challenging, emotional, inspiring, informative.”

"unbelievably excellent and moving. “

Various audience members
Audience Review
#

Performances

Canberra Theatre
Canberra

Acknowledgement of Country

We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

QTouring acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands, winds and water ways.

ContinueContinue

Stay up to date