2001

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ALICE

by Alice Haines, directed by Sally Richardson

’You have to look after yourself in the city’

In an intimate performance, ALICE weaves shadowy stories from the jagged urban landscape of Redfern and Kings Cross, together with dry black humour and an outstanding original blend of hip hop, blues, funk and soul, from Australia’s most exciting Indigenous performer.

As much as it is theatre, ALICE is Indigenous culture with an urban edge. Stories of spirit and song make for one of the most anticipated performances with a strong youth appeal. With this appeal, comes a message told through the often harsh life of Alice Haines - a message of success and personal reconciliation in spite of the odds.

"My people believe that when you die your spirit turns into a bird. There were times when I longed for that freedom."

PRODUCTION NOTES:

ALICE had been developed over two years in conjunction with STAGES and premiered at the Perth International Arts Festival, as a commissioned piece by PIAF and the Melbourne Arts Festival. ALICE was based on the life story of Alice Haines and featured her original music played by a live band onstage. The seasons occurred at the Subiaco Theatre Centre in Perth (February) and the George Fairfax Studio in Melbourne (October) and the production was well received at both. A period of Creative Development occurred between the two Festival seasons. ALICE toured to San Paolo, Brazil in 2002 as part of the Cultura Inglesa.

Andrew Carter • Set & Costume Designer

Mark Howett • Lighting Designer

Iain Graindage • Musical Consultant

David Milroy • Musical Director

Alan Surgener • Production Manager

Pixie O’Shaugnessy • Stage Manager

Roger Miller • Sound Engineer

Alice Haines • Performer

Arnhem Hunter • Performer

David Milroy • Performer

Grahame Wood • Performer (Perth only)

Howie Mann • Performer (Perth only)

Richard John • Performer (Melbourne only)

Peter Oates • Performer (Melbourne only)

ALIWA

(Look out!)

by Dallas Winmar, directed by Lynette Narkle

STRENGTH. DIGINITY. SURVIVAL.

From Yarloop on a train ride, six kids all in tow. From a house made of timber, real beds and a stove, to a camp made of tins, sticks and bags.

When welfare came sniffin around, wanting to take kids away, their Mum took the hard road and left her house and community to keep her family together. Almost fifty years later, her three daughters Dot, Ethel and Judith have told a story of the love and survival of a very special family.

Directed by Lynette Narkle, Australia’s most respected indigenous theatre artist, and written by new talent Dallas Winmar, ALIWA is an inspiring true story of survival and triumph.

PRODUCTION NOTES: ALIWA was first produced in 2000 and was well received by Perth audiences. On the basis of this success Company B in Sydney were keen to further develop the script for a season in Sydney at Belvoir Street. This was initially to be a co-production, but circumstances led to a simple Licensing Agreement for a reworked script with the writer. Company B had a very successful season with a cast that included two elders from our community Aunty Dot Collard and Frankie J Bropho. Yirra Yaakin assisted Lynette Narkle and Judith Wilkes to attend Opening Night. Yirra Yaakin’s production of ALIWA (July 2000) went on to win the Annual Best Production Award at the 2001 Equity Awards in Perth.

DJILDJIT

by David Milroy and Derek Nannup, directed by David Milroy

DJILDJIT was developed during 1999 and 2000 through a lengthy community consultation and creative development involving Winjan Aboriginal Corporation, Noongar Language Centre, Murdoch University and Ken Colbung. The play had the dual role of reviving and maintaining Noongar culture as well as introducing the culture to new young audiences.

For the second year running, the ever popular DJILDJIT was our annual children’s show. It toured metropolitan schools in term four after an in-house season at the Yirra Yaakin Space, then embarked on a South West tour as part of the Country Arts Regional School Touring Program. As always, it proved enormously popular and educationally successful, and Yirra Yaakin continues to field enquiries for future performances.

Sheryl Osborne • Set & Costume Designer

Derek Nannup • Performer

Irma Woods • Performer

Kyle Morrison • Performer

SOLID

by Ningali Lawford, Kelton Pell and Phil Thompson, directed by Phil Thompson

SOLID premiered at the Perth International Arts Festival in 2000. The show was a joint production between Black and Two Productions and Yirra Yaakin and involved a great deal of community consultation and collaboration between the Noongar and Kimberley communities. After promotion and a Spotlight Performance at the 2000 Performing Arts Market in Adelaide, there was a great deal of interest in Solid resulting in a season at the Brisbane Festival in October 2000 and the Eastern States Tour in 2001. Solid embarked on a three week tour in October to Albury Wodonga, Alice Springs and Canberra. It was also Yirra Yaakin’s contribution to the Centennial of Federation celebrations in Albany, performing two shows at the Albany Town Hall.

Alan Surgener • Set & Costume Designer

Alan Surgener • Lighting Designer

Alan Surgener • Production Manager

Phil Thompson • Tour Manager

Ningali Lawford • Performer

Kelton Pell • Performer