On at the same time
On next
The Cults Around Us
Sat
25
Sat 25 Oct 3:00 PM
Liangis Theatre | National Portrait Gallery
Wheelchair
General Admission
60 Mins
October
In plain sight or hidden in anonymous houses, cult social groups that have extreme and restrictive, religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs operate around us every day. Liz Cameron grew up in Canberra, a high achieving daughter in a close and loving family. One day, she was approached in Civic and became drawn ever tighter into a South Korean cult, led by a serial assaulter. Hollywood star Tim Pocock was born into the orbit of Opus Dei, growing up in fear of his gay sexuality and compelled to undergo conversion therapy. In Liz's Cult Bride and Tim's The Truth Will Set You Free, the two take us on harrowing and ultimately uplifting journeys, as they fight to claim their true selves. Moderated by journalist and author of Troll Hunting, Ginger Gorman, if you've ever wondered about how cults work, or have ever experienced the all-consuming pull yourself, this is an essential session.
Liz Cameron is the author of Cult Bride: How I Was Brainwashed – and How I Broke Free, a memoir about her experience in the dangerous South Korean cult Providence (JMS). Recruited and brainwashed at 18 during her gap year in Canberra, Liz later escaped and now raises awareness about coercive control and cults. She lives in Canberra, balancing professional work, advocacy, and a psychology degree. In 2023, she featured in the Channel 7 Spotlight documentary The Cult Next Door and began speaking publicly about cult dynamics, recovery, and the psychology of manipulation.
Tim Pocock is an Australian actor, producer, musician and advocate originally from Johannesburg, South Africa. An award-winning pianist and singer, Tim began his career on the Sydney Opera House stage at a young age, before embarking on a successful career in the film and television industry. With credits including X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Home and Away, the multi-Logie-winning series Dance Academy and three-time AACTA-nominated film Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism, for which he also served as executive producer, Tim also stars in the upcoming noir thriller Body Blow, set for release in 2025. In recent years, Tim has set his sights on advocating for the LGBTIQ+ community, speaking out on institutionalised homophobia and playing an active part in recent legislative changes made in the NSW Parliament's criminalisation of conversion therapy practices. His memoir is The Truth Will Set You Free.
_______________________________________________________________
Concession Tickets apply for children under the age of 16, full-time students, Commonwealth Health Care Card holders, Commonwealth Seniors Card Holders and Commonwealth Pensioner Concession Card holders. Please have your eligible card with you at the venue.
Liz Cameron is the author of Cult Bride: How I Was Brainwashed – and How I Broke Free, a memoir about her experience in the dangerous South Korean cult Providence (JMS). Recruited and brainwashed at 18 during her gap year in Canberra, Liz later escaped and now raises awareness about coercive control and cults. She lives in Canberra, balancing professional work, advocacy, and a psychology degree. In 2023, she featured in the Channel 7 Spotlight documentary The Cult Next Door and began speaking publicly about cult dynamics, recovery, and the psychology of manipulation.
Tim Pocock is an Australian actor, producer, musician and advocate originally from Johannesburg, South Africa. An award-winning pianist and singer, Tim began his career on the Sydney Opera House stage at a young age, before embarking on a successful career in the film and television industry. With credits including X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Home and Away, the multi-Logie-winning series Dance Academy and three-time AACTA-nominated film Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism, for which he also served as executive producer, Tim also stars in the upcoming noir thriller Body Blow, set for release in 2025. In recent years, Tim has set his sights on advocating for the LGBTIQ+ community, speaking out on institutionalised homophobia and playing an active part in recent legislative changes made in the NSW Parliament's criminalisation of conversion therapy practices. His memoir is The Truth Will Set You Free.
_______________________________________________________________
Concession Tickets apply for children under the age of 16, full-time students, Commonwealth Health Care Card holders, Commonwealth Seniors Card Holders and Commonwealth Pensioner Concession Card holders. Please have your eligible card with you at the venue.