Australian Adoption Podcast - My Unknown Truth
Sharing stories and experiences of Australians who have been through Adoption and Foster Care. The stories are sometimes complex and tackle difficult issues which span over 50 plus years. From children that have been in an under resourced system to Australia's traumatic history of forced adoptions and the stolen generations. But through this darkness comes light - there are also stories of hope, courage resilience and love. My Unknown Truth is hosted by Nadia Levett, born and raised in Australia and is a child of Adoption. It is my wish that by sharing a range of experiences will lead to increased awareness and understanding around Foster Care and Adoption in Australia, facilitate informed discussion and encourage more people to share their story, open listeners hearts, minds and maybe homes to children in need.
Australian Adoption Podcast - My Unknown Truth
Episode 34 - Barton's story
Hi listeners, today I am speaking with Barton.
A former Surf Life Saver, Australian barefoot water ski champion and an educator, Barton is also a published writer, an actor in film, tv, and theatre. He is also a Vietnamese war adoptee.
In April 1975, President Ford initiated the largest-ever humanitarian child evacuation. Thousands of babies were "lifted" from war-torn Vietnam to Western countries to begin a new life.
Barton C Williams (aka Huynh van Cuong) was one of these children. He was adopted and raised in Adelaide.
'FRAGILE' began as a children’s book, written by Barton in 2018, called 'But What Are You?'. In 2020, Barton wrote 'Precious Cargo', a play presented as a staged reading at Rumahfest and at The London Vaults Festival with Mohamad Faizal Abdullah.
In 2022, Barton co-developed 'Precious Cargo' with Scottish theatre company “Sruth Mara” into a solo show which premiered at An Lanntair Theatre (Isle of Lewis), and then at Summerhall in the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
And now, the story is coming home, to Australia!
Barton will be performing at the Adelaide Fringe festival in a new version of his adoption story called; “FRAGILE, Handle with care” starting February 22nd. A multi-facet production covering themes of the Vietnam war, Adoption, displacement, resilience and paying homage to Australia and the US.
Fifty years on, many are still searching for their biological parents. After his performance in Adelaide Barton will return to Chicago for two weeks before heading off to help fundraise for a charity ride in Vietnam, raising money and awareness to mothers who lost children during the Vietnam war;
If you would like to know more about the Adelaide fringe festival head to – https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/fragile-handle-with-care-af2025
If you would like to know more about the Vietnam family search charity bike ride check out - https://vietnamfamilysearch.com/about-2/
If you wish to reach out to Barton directly, he can be found on all social media platforms.
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The Australian Adoption Podcast with host Nadia Levett!
