Soldiers Point Hall hosts performance about growing up in a religious household

WHAT is it like growing up in a deeply religious household?

And what can drive someone to step away from the church after 18 years of Christian faith?

Simon Vaughan shared the answers to these questions (and more) in an engaging hour-long, one-person performance titled ‘And Also With You’ in Soldiers Point Hall earlier this year.

Spectators came from as far as Newcastle to listen to Simon share his story of growing up as a religious teenager finding his place in the world, tackling topics like his isolation from non-religious peers, youth camp experiences, his eventual disillusionment with Christian tenets, and even his dating misadventures.

Soldiers Point Hall was turned into a makeshift church for the performance, complete with authentic church booklets from 2001, singing of hymns, haphazard audience participation, and even communion.

It was described as almost like a real service, moving between the heartfelt and the tongue-in-cheek.

While Simon’s personal experience was certainly not typical, his humour and self-awareness managed to connect the audience members regardless of their beliefs or background.

The church atmosphere proved to be extremely effective for many members of the audience, who were sent back to simpler, nostalgic, or sometimes uncomfortable times.

“For some people it feels familiar, for others it’s like, ‘Oh God, get me out of here’,” Simon said.

“It’s really like time travel. I see people actually shrink when they’re saying the words, because it’s just like they became a teenager again.”

‘And Also With You’ was presented in collaboration with Port Stephens Council, which stated its increased interest in utilising Soldiers Point Hall to host more artistic and performance events in the future.

Council has invited community members to share how they would like the venue to be utilised in the future, and what kind of performances and art projects could be held there.

By Nico LOMBARDO