Bangarra Dance Theatre and Sydney Theatre Company, in association with Sydney Festival, reveal a world premiere of epic-scale contemporary work Wudjang: Not the Past
In the deep darkness just before dawn, workmen find bones while excavating for a dam. Among them is a Yugambeh man, Bilin, who convinces his colleagues to let him keep the ancestral bones. This ancestor is Wudjang, who longs to be reburied the proper way. With her young companion spirit, Gurai, she dances and teaches and sings of the past, of the earth, of songlines. With grace and authentic power, a new generation is taught how to listen, learn and carry their ancestral energy into the future. Wudjang: Not the Past follows the journey to honour Wudjang with a traditional resting place on Country.
This new work brings together 17 dancers, four musicians and five actors for Bangarra's largest stage production to date.
Directed and choreographed by Bangarra’s Artistic Director Stephen Page and co-written with award-winning playwright Alana Valentine (Bangarra’s Bennelong, Barbara and the Camp Dogs), Wudjang: Not the Past is deeply rooted in Page’s own Yugambeh Country, in a story with branches spreading across our continent’s past and troubled present.
Combining poetry, spoken storytelling and live music with our unique dance language, this profoundly evocative piece of First Nations performance promises to be a benchmark Australian production.
Recommended: Ages 12+. Warning: Contains political and social themes, including violence and sexual assault, which may cause distress. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised contains voices of people who have passed away.
14th January, 2022
12th February, 2022
Wheelchair seats are available in the Roslyn Packer Theatre. There is level access from the main entrance into the theatre. Please contact the box office via (02) 9250 1777 to discuss your requirements prior to booking.
GETTING TO THE VENUE
BY BUS: Bus routes 324 and 325 stop outside the theatre.
BY TRAIN: Circular Quay and Wynyard are the closest stations, and the theatre is approximately 15 minutes walk away.
BY METRO: Barangaroo is the closest station, approximately a 6 minute walk to the theatre.
BY CAR: Limited on-street parking is available outside Roslyn Packer Theatre on Hickson Road. Make sure you arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the performance starting time as it can take more than 10 minutes to park, get to the theatre and be seated in time.
★★★★★ "One of the most moving and fearless works ever presented by Bangarra" - Time Out
★★★★½ “Stephen Page’s legacy is an epic piece of storytelling” - Sydney Morning Herald
★★★★★ "A performance steeped in emotion.....It has never been more important for this story to be told." - The AU Review
★★★★½ "Stephen Page’s final production as Artistic Director....is a hugely ambitious, breathtaking production that takes the company into exciting new territory." - Limelight Magazine
"Exceptional" - The Australian
“How is culture and knowledge being passed on from generation to generation? How are today’s young people from assimilated communities living with or without ceremonial knowledge? There’s a large conversation right now about sharing knowledge among First Nation’s People, a continual conversation going on in our back yard. Wudjang: Not the Past is about reclaiming our stories and carrying the Wudjang spirit forward for the next generation.” Bangarra Artistic Director, Stephen Page
DIRECTOR: Stephen Page
CHOREOGRAPHY: Stephen Page, Bangarra Dancers
WRITERS: Stephen Page, Alana Valentine
COMPOSER: Steve Francis
DANCERS: Beau Dean Riley Smith, Rikki Mason, Rika Hamaguchi, Glory Tuohy-Daniell, Baden Hitchcock, Ryan Pearson, Lillian Banks, Bradley Smith, Courtney Radford, Kassidy Waters, Kalum Goolagong, Gusta Mara, Kiarn Doyle, Maddison Paluch, Daniel Mateo, Emily Flannery
CAST: Elaine Crombie, Jess Hitchcock, Trevor Jamieson, Elma Kris, Justin Smith
MUSICIANS: Brendon Boney, Amaru Derwent, Tessa Nuku, Véronique Serret
Please note: This production contains political and social themes, including violence and sexual assault, which may cause distress. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this production contains voices of people who have passed away. This production also includes haze, flame and smoke effects, and has elevated sound levels.
Unfortunately, tickets for this event are no longer available.
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