I SWEAR (FILM)

Written and Directed by Kirk Jones

Transmission Films

In cinemas from March 26

 

Reviewed by Len Power 5 March 2026

 

Based on the life of John Davidson, a Scottish man with severe Tourette Syndrome, “I Swear” is often fiercely funny but also warm-hearted.

Once regarded as a rare and bizarre syndrome, Tourette’s has been associated with the utterance of obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks. It is no longer considered rare.

 John Davidson first displays Tourette’s in adolescence in the early 1980s. Society’s ignorance of the condition at the time causes conflict at home as well as punishment by teachers and the police. Only a local mental health nurse, Dottie, seems prepared to offer help and solace, while an elderly caretaker at a community centre, Tommy, provides John with a job.

While there are setbacks, John is eventually able to offer Tourette’s workshops, giving talks to schools and to the police. His work is ultimately recognized with an MBE award presented by Queen Elizabeth II in 2019.

Director and writer of the screenplay, Kirk Jones, bluntly presents the issues faced by Davidson from youth to manhood without resorting to sentiment. He is aided by an excellent cast of actors. Robert Aramayo plays the elder John Davidson in a standout performance that won him a 2025 BAFTA Award. Scott Ellis Watson plays the younger Davidson in an impressive debut performance. There is strong support from Maxine Peake as the mental nurse, Dottie, and Peter Mullan as the elderly caretaker, Tommy.

In the film, it is made clear that people do not know enough about Tourette’s. It ultimately shows that education, understanding and acceptance are essential to enable people living with the condition to have normal lives.

The journey taken with John Davidson is at times horrifying and confronting but it is also unexpectedly funny. This is a strongly moving and optimistic film. “I Swear” is likely be one of the most memorable films of the year.

Trailer: https://youtu.be/zhRgPCUKFiw

  

STRAVINSKY, SCHUBERT AND BEETHOVEN - MASTERPIECES FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO (CONCERT)

Jimmy Park, violin

Alexander Yau, piano

Wesley Music Centre, Forrest, February 28

 

Reviewed by Len Power

Showcasing masterpieces that embody the notion of a duo proved to be a very good idea for this pair of musicians, one on piano and the other on violin. They showed beyond doubt that they can play as one with three distinctive works by Stravinsky, Schubert and Beethoven.

Returning home for this special performance, Jimmy Park (violin) is currently undertaking post-master’s studies at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg. Alexander Yau, a Juilliard School graduate, is currently Associate Lecturer at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

They commenced their program with Igor Stravinsky’s Divertimento, originally written for the ballet in 1928 and arranged for violin and piano in 1932. This work is colourful, rhythmic and playful with an underlying tension. Yau and Park gave it a fine performance, clearly bringing out all the distinct characteristics of Stravinsky’s work.

The next item was Franz Schubert’s 1826 Rondo in B minor. This work is both highly energetic as well as lyrical, challenging players both technically and interpretively. Their performance was exciting and well-controlled throughout.

Jimmy Park, violin and Alexander Yau, piano

The final work of the program was Ludwig van Beethoven’s 1803 Sonata No. 9 in A – the Kreuzer.  This major work in three movements has a reputation for technical difficulty in performance, requiring the ability to achieve a wide range of emotion in the music. The performers met that challenge superbly, especially with their electrifying playing of the exuberant third movement.

These works may have tested the performers, but both appeared relaxed and you could sense that they were thoroughly enjoying playing together.

To end this concert of highly emotional music, the performers gave a calming encore of the sweetly romantic Liebeslied by Fritz Kreisler.

 

Photos by Dalice Trost

 

This review was first published by Canberra CityNews digital edition on 1 March 2026.

Len Power's reviews are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’ and ‘Arts About’ programs.

  

CANBERRA CABARET FESTIVAL (CABARET)

 

DNA The Cabaret performed by Janie Lawson

Dave 101 performed by Dave Collins

ACT Hub Theatre, Kingston 21 February

 

Reviewed by Len Power

 

There was a huge buzz of anticipation in the full house at the ACT Hub Theatre for the two performers on the evening’s bill for the Canberra Cabaret Festival. Both performers exceeded their audience’s expectations, providing a highly entertaining evening of personal revelations and good music.

The first performer, Janie Lawson, presented DNA The Cabaret: A journey of identity, discovery, and new beginnings. Accompanied by Callum Tolhurst-Close on keyboard, Lawson began her show with a fine version of The Skye Boat Song. This journey song set the scene for her story of an unexpected discovery about her family background.

Janie Lawson

Choosing popular, theatre and film songs that provided emotional highlights for her story, Lawson provided intimate insights into her character as she related this compelling journey of discovery. Concluding with a rousing version of I Am What I Am from the musical La Cage Aux Folles, Lawson made the song a triumphant and emotional climax for both her personal journey and her show.

Lawson has been entertaining audiences for more than 30 years, having performed in musicals, plays, cabarets, and corporate events locally, interstate and in the USA. She has most recently appeared as Maureen in Free Rain’s Beauty Queen of Leenane, Marion Woolnough in The Boy From Oz and Mrs Wilkinson in Billy Elliot.

Dave Collins

For his show, Dave Collins presented Dave 101: An Introduction to Poor Life Choices. Choosing chapters from the book of his life so far, Collins provided a comedic look at incidents and missteps where hindsight has become a wonderful thing.

His very human and at times courageous insights were highlighted with a number of popular and theatre songs which displayed his powerful vocal ability. He was joined for well-chosen and performed individual duets by friends and guest performers Kara Murphy, Amelia Andersson-Nickson and Louiza Blomfield.

Collins is a Canberra and Sydney based singer/actor and musician, with a career spanning across television, stage, pantomime, big‑band leading, corporate events, and a broad range of musical theatre productions from local to international. He is currently the Lead Male Vocalist for Spectrum Big Band, performing at various corporate and public events across the Canberra region.

 

Photos by Photox – Ben Appleton

This review was first published by Canberra CityNews digital edition on 22 February 2026.

Len Power's reviews are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’ and ‘Arts About’ programs.