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Page 8, Tron, Glasgow

By Mary Brennan

30 May 2006 - (The Herald: UK) - NINE years ago, the Page boys – David, Stephen and Russell – were responsible for one of the most mystical, magical, captivating dance pieces ever to appear at the Edinburgh International Festival. Called Fish, it introduced Bangarra (Dance Theatre)– and a profound vision of Australia's Aboriginal culture. Now David Page, the musically creative member of the team, is on-stage in a completely different guise, telling his own life story (or as much of it as he can cram into 90 minutes).

In a programme note, he's entertainingly upfront about his initial reluctance. Luckily Stephen, who directed the piece, chivvied him centre-stage where he is easily in his element – chatty, droll and utterly charming, even when delivering sentimental details about his family (pa, ma and 11 siblings – while other relatives extend the count to more than 200).
He takes us inside his life through grainy,

Super-8 films of early family togetherness. Older sisters glamming up were a huge influence. Younger brothers – he was the oldest son, Page 8 in the pecking order – looning around in gleeful games. It's a succession of smiling faces, his unstinting affection evident in the footage and the narrative that connects it. Family, clearly, has been the touchstone that saw him through fleeting teenage fame (he was hailed as Oz's Michael Jackson when only 13) and the subsequently fraught process of self-discovery that included coming out as a gay Aboriginal man.

Shazam! The upstage wardrobe becomes a closet from which Page emerges triumphantly, in sparkling drag, to celebrate a life which has been anything but.
NINE years ago, the Page boys – David, Stephen and Russell – were responsible for one of the most mystical, magical, captivating dance pieces ever to appear at the Edinburgh International Festival. Called Fish, it introduced Bangarra (Dance Theatre)– and a profound vision of Australia's Aboriginal culture. Now David Page, the musically creative member of the team, is on-stage in a completely different guise, telling his own life story (or as much of it as he can cram into 90 minutes).

In a programme note, he's entertainingly upfront about his initial reluctance. Luckily Stephen, who directed the piece, chivvied him centre-stage where he is easily in his element – chatty, droll and utterly charming, even when delivering sentimental details about his family (pa, ma and 11 siblings – while other relatives extend the count to more than 200).
He takes us inside his life through grainy, Super-8 films of early family togetherness. Older sisters glamming up were a huge influence. Younger brothers – he was the oldest son, Page 8 in the pecking order – looning around in gleeful games. It's a succession of smiling faces, his unstinting affection evident in the footage and the narrative that connects it.

Family, clearly, has been the touchstone that saw him through fleeting teenage fame (he was hailed as Oz's Michael Jackson when only 13) and the subsequently fraught process of self-discovery that included coming out as a gay Aboriginal man.

Source: The Herald: UK

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