Gunawarra Re-Creation

About The Show

Originally conceived as part of Blak in the Room, a collaboration between ILBIJERRI Theatre Company and Melbourne Theatre Company, celebrating emerging female First Peoples playwrights. Gunawarra Re-Creation adapts its narrative from the traditional Kulin Nations story of Gunawarra; the black swan, and how they came to have black feathers.

Set on Taun Wurrung country, the play traverses Blak women’s strength, survival and healing in a profoundly emotive production, with the remounted season directed by Artistic Director of ILBIJERRI Theatre Company, Andrea James.

In this powerful story of culture, memory and healing, Murrun returns to the watering hole; the same one her Aunty Aggie used to take her to. The sacred one. There, past and present collide. She meets her old friend Gunawarra. The Black Swan.

Gunawarra Re-Creation deals with creation stories. It deals with Taun Warrung (Taungurung) cultural, spiritual and religious beliefs. It also deals with the experience of violence to female bodies and the recovery from that violence. It has conversations about stolen generations and the way in which their trauma can be passed on to the next generation...

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Cast

Hannah Morphy Walsh (Taun Wurrung) - Gunawarra

Lisa Maza (Yidinji, Meriam) - Aunty Aggie

Melodie Reynolds-Diarra (Wongutha, Nadju, Mirning) - Roo

Miela Anich (Badu/Kala Lagaw Ya) – Murrun

 

Creatives

Writer Isobel Morphy-Walsh (Taun Wurrung)

Director (Remounted Production) Andrea James (Yorta Yorta, Gunaikurnai)

Director (Premiere Production) Dr Rachael Maza AM (Yidinji, Meriam)

Dramaturg Amy Sole (Wiradjurri, Worimi)

Set & Costume Designer Dann Barber 

Associate Set & Costume Emma Salmon (Nyikina)

Lighting Designer Katie Sfetkidis

Sound Designer/Composer James Henry (Yuwaalaraay, Gamilaraay, Yorta Yorta, Yuin)

Stage Manager Natasha Marich

Production Manager Jess Maguire

Production Manager (Melbourne season) Celina Mack

Producer Phoebe Watson (Gunditjmara)

Movement Consultant Zoë Brown-Holten ((Th)Dunghutti and Gomeroi)

 

Photography Tiffany Garvie (Gunggari)