DATES & VENUES July 2 - 6, 2002 (World Premiere)
Victorian Arts Centre Playhouse,
Melbourne July 10-14, 2002.
Theatre Royal,
Sydney July 24 - 27, 2002.
Queensland Performing Arts Centre,
Playhouse,
Brisbane back to top
WALKABOUT SYNOPSIS AND PROGRAM
What leads us to walk away from what we know best? Sometimes there is no choice. The hardest journey can often be to rediscover the steps of the original walkabout. Bangarra's electrifying new double bill, Walkabout, traces an extraordinary history of Indigenous struggle and survival from the early missions and stations of outback Australia to the neon soaked streets of our modern day cities. A passionate and revealing work featuring acclaimed actress, Ningali Lawford, Walkabout proves once again why this unique company has gained such immense popularity and respect worldwide. Rations pulls at the threads of hand-me-downs. Lured from their homelands, clothed in cast offs and fed an alien diet of flour and sugar, the people find themselves trapped in a cycle of dependency. Leading dancer, Frances Rings, crafts images of raw beauty underpinned by the haunting harmonies of a traditional women's choir. Rush - the energy and resilience of youth. The struggle to reconcile the old ways with the new and cleanse the pain of the past. Fresh songlines are being drawn in the ancient soil. The rush of survival. Artistic Director Stephen Page creates an evocative and confronting work that explores the tensions between the spiritual and social forces that shape Indigenous life. Rush is Bangarra at its most formidable and engaging. WALKABOUT 2002 AUSTRALIAN PROGRAM RATIONS
Choreographed by Frances Rings
Mourning: A young woman makes the transition from traditional life in the bush to the station. Flour: Father Abraham: Work, play and Christian indoctrination on the missions and stations.
Domestics: Young women bear the brunt of hard domestic labour.
Flour Spirits: The introduction of white poisons. Overtures of sexual abuse. Ceremony: Traditional ceremonial dance. Blankets: The smothering of traditional culture and introduction of diseases like smallpox. Tobacco: Ash: Traditional tobacco is used to evoke visions and show the men their totem.
Smoko: A young man struggles with the conflicts between traditional and station life.
Humpy: Traditional shelter. RUSH
Choreographed by Stephen Page Initiation: The spirit's painful journey.
Bunks: Oppression of institutions vs the energy of children.
Hair: Western culture focuses on the external appearance -what is civilised?
Walls: Mandatory detention, young male energy.
Dots: A homage to the beauty and vitality of Aboriginal visual art.
The Call: The struggle between urban and traditional existence.
Veins: The poisons of western culture.
Hope: A return to the traditional tracks of the walkabout. back to top | WALKABOUT CREDITS (2002) Creatives & Production
Choreography Rations - Frances Rings
Choreography Rush - Stephen Page
Original Music - Steve Francis
Lighting Design - Trudy Dalgleish
Costume Design - Jennifer Irwin
Set Design - Peter England
Props/Scenic art - John Matkovic
Assistant Artistic Director - Jasmine Gulash
Production Manager - Vanessa Hutchins
Stage Manager - Narelle Lewis
Assistant Stage Manager - Ebony Williams Dancers
Victor Bramich, Yolande Brown, Albert David, Elma Kris, Peggy Misi, Russell Page, Frances Rings, Desley Roberts, Sidney Saltner, Peta Strachan, Patrick Thaiday, Sani
Townson, Rachael Wallis
Guest Performer - Ningali Lawford Additional Music Credits
The Adnyamathanha Women's Choir
Ningali Lawford
Djakapurra Munyarryun
NoKTuRNL |  Photo: Greg Barrett
Dancers: Desley Roberts, Russell Page |
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WALKABOUT CD A CD featuring all the music from Walkabout can be purchased through Bangarra Dance Theatre. CDs of the music from Ochres, Fish, Corroboree, Skin and Bush can also be purchased. Please contact:
Bangarra Dance Theatre
bangarra@bangarra.com.au
ph: 612 9 251 5333
fax: 612 9 251 5266 back to top WALKABOUT SPONSORS Telstra
Australia Council
NSW Ministry
ATSIC
Qantas
JC Decaux
General Property Trust
Sydney Morning Herald back to top | 
