These Heathen Dreams

Once described by the press as one of the most controversial figures on the Australian art scene avantgarde poet and playwright Christopher Barnett achieved a level of notoriety in the Melbourne underground theatre scene during the 70s and 80s before selfexiling to France He remains there today running an experimental theatre lab working with the marginalised and underprivileged applauded by the establishment including former French Prime Minister JeanMarc Ayrault and faithful to his belief that art can change the world These Heathen Dreams is an intimate portrait of Barnetts life and revolutionary philosophy Combining archival footage dating back to the 60s with contemporary observational documentation and text from Barnetts writings it is a poignant and inspiring study of the power of both art and political activism