Community Capture
This was a show like no other! The Yolŋu community of Darwin turned out in their numbers. Even homeless people in the Civic Park who saw their countrymen arriving at the theatre for our dress rehearsal joined in and remained on stage for the duration of the show. In the final dance, which we had not programmed, they invited the audience on stage as well, and we danced out of the theatre.
A day before the show, we had a final rehearsal, and Kwame Selormey, co-producer and storyteller, met the Tiwi and Yolŋu storytellers for the first time. The rehearsal became a moment of connecting through story. As Kwame took his leave at the end, I turned to the other storytellers and asked, “what do you think if Kwame emcees the show instead of me?” I chased down Kwame in the car park and he agreed. This became the first show where one of our indigenous storytellers was also emcee.
–Steven Bird
We asked the audience to express their gratitude to our storytellers using body language
The Details
Where: Browns Mart Theatre
When: 8 July, 2017
Format: Darwin Fringe Festival
Storytellers: Magdalen Kelantumama and Fiona Kerinaiua (Tiwi), Yinin Dhurrkay and Guwanbal Gurruwiwi, with Dion, Badikupa, Rayalmana, Wayarpa, Wanyilinyil, Jayden and Kevin Gurruwiwi, Rratj Burarrwaŋa, Batiŋarra Bukulatjpi, Galanini Yunupingu, and Djarrupi Wunuŋmurra (Yolŋu)
Production: Kwame Selormey, Steven Bird
Support: ARDS Aboriginal Corporation, Darwin Community Arts, Melaleuca Refugee Centre, Charles Darwin University
Photography: Steven Bird
Program: pdf