Photograph: James Henry

In 1881, the men and women of Coranderrk Aboriginal Reserve had a simple and revolutionary goal: to continue the brilliant experiment in self-determination they had pioneered CAST/CHARACTERS on the scrap of country left to them. TREVOR JAMIESON But the law said they needed Narrator, Reverend Hagenauer, permission. So they went head-to- William Barak, Phinnamore head with the Aboriginal Protection Board at a Victorian Parliamentary MATHEW COOPER Inquiry to be allowed to continue. Reverend Strickland, Commissioner 2, This inspiring true story recreates Christian Ogilvie, Thomas Bamfield, compelling history on stage. Thomas Dunolly, Constable Tevlin “It is honest, open, raw, emotional, JESSE BUTLER poignant; true. There is a strong spirit Commissioner 1, Henry Jennings, in Coranderrk. And to sit in a crowded Robert Wandon, Edward Curr, darkened theatre and witness it, is a John Green, Alfred Davis truly humbling experience.” – Glenn EBONY MCGUIRE Saunders, The Spell of Waking Hours Anne Bon, Alice Grant, Eleanor McKie, CORANDERK is a collaboration Caroline Morgan, Eda Brangy between leading Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists, researchers, education experts and community CREATIVE TEAM members. The production aims to encourage a shared understanding CAST Trevor Jamieson, Mathew Cooper, of the past between Aboriginal and Jesse Butler, Ebony McGuire non-Aboriginal people. DIRECTOR Eva Grace Mullaley WRITERS Andrea James & Giordano Nanni SOUND DESIGNER James Henry DIRECTORS NOTE AUDIO VISUAL DESIGNER Keith Deverell LIGHTING DESIGNER Tegan Evans It is an honour that ILBIJERRI COSTUME DESIGNER Brynna Lowen asked me to direct this story of SET DESIGNERS Brynna Lowen & Tegan Evans such an amazing historical event. PRODUCTION MANAGER Sarah Wong The ancestors given voice in this STAGE MANAGER Brock Brocklesby play were astute and resilient First Peoples in a very prejudiced and harsh era. You can’t know the story ILBIJERRI THEATRE COMPANY of Coranderrk without feeling a gamut of emotions. The cast, crew ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Rachael Maza and I revel in the importance of this EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Simeon Moran story being told right now, when CREATIVE PRODUCER Ben Graetz it is so needed. It is an honour to PRODUCERS Lisa Parris & Nina Bonacci be revealing the real history of ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS Jermaine Beezley & Julia Valentini Australia, in an indisputable verbatim EDUCATION & LEARNING MANAGER Kamarra Bell-Wykes play, with an honest and poignant DEVELOPMENT & MARKETING MANAGER Iain Finlayson story of perseverance and pride. MARKETING COORDINATOR Fred Chuang COMPANY MANAGER Lauren Bok Eva Grace Mullaley FINANCE MANAGER Jon Hawkes DIRECTOR

CANBERRA THEATRE CENTRE PRESENTS AN ILBIJERRI THEATRE COMPANY & BELVOIR PRODUCTION GIORDANO NANNI series, Juice Rap News (co-created Sydney, Andrea was the Aboriginal WRITER with Hugo Farrant) – a spoof News Arts Development Officer at Blacktown bulletin delivered via rap, music and Arts Centre 2010-2012 and Aboriginal comedy, whose anarchic take on world Producer at Carriageworks from events has earned an audience across 2012-2016 before embarking upon the world by covering topics such as a freelance theatremaking and US imperialism, Australian politics, producing career. Internet culture, Indigenous struggles, climate change, and many more. You In 2012 she directed Bully Beef Stew, can check out Giordano’s work at: a play about Aboriginal manhood, thejuicemedia.com at PACT Theatre, and co-wrote Coranderrk: We Will Show the Country Giordano Nanni is an historian, with Giordano Nanni, which was writer and online video producer. produced by ILBIJERRI Theatre He graduated from the University ANDREA JAMES Company and the Minutes of Evidence of Melbourne with a PhD in History WRITER Project at La Mama Courthouse and subsequently sought to combine Theatre and a reworked version staged academic and creative methodologies at Belvoir in 2013. She was a recipient in order to engage a broader audience of the British Council’s competitive outside academia, across various media – from Internet to theatre and Accelerate Program for Aboriginal Art print. He conceived the idea of re- Leaders in 2013 and was recently staging of the 1881 Coranderrk Inquiry awarded the Arts NSW Aboriginal through verbatim-theatre, and was key Arts Fellowship to write a one-woman to its development through the ARC- play about Aboriginal tennis player, funded Minutes of Evidence project, Andrea is a Yorta Yorta/Kurnai woman Evonne Goolagong. Andrea performed on which Giordano worked as Senior and graduate of the Victorian College in her co-written play Bright World with Research Associate at the University of the Arts. She cut her teeth as the Elise Hearst by Arthur Productions of Melbourne. He has published two Artistic Director of Melbourne Workers’ at Theatreworks in April 2015 and books: The Colonisation of time: Ritual, Theatre from 2001 to 2008 and is directed the premiere of her new play Routine & Resistance in the British best known for her work writing and Winyanboga Yurringa (inspired by “A must see for all” Empire and, with Andrea James, directing Yanagai! Yanagai! – a play Hyllus Maris and Sonia Borg’s Women Coranderrk: We Will Show The Country about her father’s people, the Yorta of the Sun) at Carriageworks that (available from Aboriginal Studies Yorta, and their struggle for land rights toured to the Geelong Performing Arts ARTSHUB Press). Giordano currently writes justice. The play premiered at Playbox Centre in August 2016. Her short play, Tyson Mowarin Photo: and produces satirical videos via his in 2004 and was remounted in 2006 Blacktown Angels recently premiered production company The Juice Media, before enjoying an international tour at the Sydney Festival as a part of “A story of resistance to Wales and England. Relocating to best known for the cult YouTube Urban Theatre Project’s Home Country. and of strength”

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body. THE AGE

CANBERRA THEATRE CENTRE CULTURAL FACILITIES Director Bruce Carmichael CORPORATION ADMINISTRATION Chair Mr John Hindmarsh Phone 02 6243 5711 Fax 02 6243 5721 Board Members Mr. Raoul Craemer, [email protected] Ms Louise Douglas, canberratheatrecentre.com.au Ms Harriet Elvin (CEO), Ms Virginia Haussegger AM, CANBERRA TICKETING Ms Robyn Hendry and Mr Eugene Kalenjuk. Phone 02 6275 2700 Fax 02 6230 1098 Chief Executive Officer Ms Harriet Elvin Canberra Theatre Centre is a part of canberraticketing.com.au Chief Finance Officer Mr Ian Tidy the Cultural Facilities Corporation PERFORMERS

TREVOR JAMIESON PERFORMER Trevor is one of Australia’s most recognisable faces of theatre, film and TV. He played Uncle Max in the ABC TV EBONY MCGUIRE series and starred in both Cleverman PERFORMER the ABC TV mini-series and Sydney Theatre Company national tour of The Ebony McGuire graduated from the Secret River. He also recently starred Western Australian Academy of in the national tour of Queensland Performing Arts (WAAPA) with Theatre Company’s Black Diggers. a Certificate IV in Aboriginal Trevor collaborated with Big hART to MATHEW COOPER Theatre. While at WAAPA PERFORMER create Ngapartji Ngapartji for which she participated in a variety he won ‘Best Leading Man’ at the Mathew is a Wongatha man from of workshopped performances. In the Sydney Theatre Awards and ‘Most regional WA. This is his third final performance Ebony was cast as Outstanding Achievement in Film, TV or time performing in Coranderrk for Tiffany in Casting Doubts by Maryanne Theatre’ at the Deadly Awards. Trevor ILBIJERRI Theatre Company. His Samm, co-directed by Rick Brayford JESSE BUTLER was nominated for ‘Best Leading Man’ and Eva Mullaley. In 2014 Ebony other acting work includes the stage PERFORMER at the Sydney Theatre Awards for his play ‘Stolen’ for the National Theatre of performed at The Blue Room theatre in performance of Albert Namatjira in Parramatta, ‘Lucky’ for MTC/Neon, and an independent production as Alison, Jesse Butler (East Aranda) is a the Belvoir/Big hART co-production has performed in multiple productions in What Do They Call Me? written graduate from the Adelaide College Namatjira. Other theatre credits for Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company. by Eva Johnson, directed by Eva for the Arts (AC Arts). During his time include: Hipbone Sticking Out (Big He has just finished shooting Mullaley. In October 2014 she was at AC Arts he performed in numerous hART), Storm Boy (Sydney Theatre Screentime Australia’s third Season a workshop facilitator in the Culture 2.0 theatre and film projects including Company/Barking Gecko), Nyuntu Ngali of Janet king in the role of Shannon | Respecting Yourself | Respect Your Cloudstreet and Hamlet. Since (Windmill Theatre/Big hART) & Yandy Hinksman, appeared in Blackfella Culture workshop program with Yirra graduating Jesse has written and (Black Swan Theatre). Trevor’s film and Films’ TV series Redfern Now as Yaakin Theatre Company. Continuing performed in several Adelaide Fringe TV credits include: Rabbit Proof Fence, Damo and finished shooting his first her relationship with Yirra Yaakin, shows. Jesse has also directed a Lockie Leonard, Bran Nue Dae, 3 Acts feature The Marshes early last year, in 2015 Ebony performed in Kep number of shows including Fat Pig of Murder, Around the Block, My Place, scheduled for release in mid 2017. His Kaatijin directed by Ian Wilkes and and Sexual Perversity in Chicago. The Circuit, Done Dirt Cheap, Weewar, play Confessions of a Pyromaniac was worked with a team of artists in Recently Jesse toured with ILBIJERRI Kings in Grass Castles & Heartland. staged at the Blue Room Theatre in developing the Shakespeare Sonnets in Theatre Company in NORTH WEST Trevor is also a talented didgeridoo Perth in 2014, is a member of the Noongar workshop program. In 2015 OF NOWHERE, performing for schools, player, guitarist, singer, dancer and Cope St theatre collective, and has she performed as Lizzy in The Fever communities and prisons across storyteller. He has performed didge also worked with the Joan Sutherland and The Fret written by Jub Clerc, Victoria. In the future Jesse would at events around the world and has Theatre Centre and Glenbrook Primary directed by Kyle Morrison and staged like to write and perform for TV, toured with Black Arm Band’s Dirtsong. to devise and develop performance. by Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company. film and theatre. Photograph: James Henry

EVA GRACE MULLALEY TEGAN EVANS SARAH WONG BRYNNA LOWEN KEITH DEVERELL SOUND DESIGNER DIRECTOR LIGHTING DESIGNER PRODUCTION MANAGER COSTUME DESIGNER AUDIO VISUAL DESIGNER JAMES HENRY

Eva Grace Mullaley is a Widi woman Tegan began her career in the Sarah has worked for over ten years, Brynna is a production designer and Melbourne and Hobart-based artist James Henry has been in demand as a from the Yamatji Nation in the Midwest performing arts in 1996 as an acrobat both as a production manager and maker, interested in creating whole Keith Deverell composer and sound designer in recent Region of Western Australia. She with The Flying Fruit Fly Circus, stage manager, on a wide variety of environments that encompass set, has exhibited extensively in Australia years. His multi discipline skill set has graduated from the Certificate IV Australia’s premier children’s circus. projects in the performing arts and props and costume elements. and internationally. Working in post- been utilised as a composer for White in Aboriginal Theatre course at the In years following her interest drifted events industry. documentary, Night projections, Musical Director for Growing up in rural Victoria, she Western Australian Academy of from performing to the art of lighting his work meditates on the tapestries Melbourne Festival opening Tanderrum, Recent projects include theatre developed a love for utilising salvaged Performing Arts (WAAPA) in 2003. for the stage. During her final years and politics of place and place-based nominated for a Green Room Award productions such as The Book Club materials in her designs, focusing on of school Tegan undertook a series identities. Keith is currently undertaking for Blood on the Dance Floor sound Eva began her directing career in 2005 (Melbourne and London seasons 2016); sculpture and textile construction. of lighting and technical traineeships a PhD through the School of Art at design and Yirramboi Festival opening when she was assistant to David Milroy major events such as , Following her graduation from the with HotHouse Theatre (NSW) and in White Night RMIT University. He has exhibited at ceremony composer. for the first creative development of European Games Opening & Closing Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), 2003 enrolled at the Ballarat Academy Dark Mofo, Tasmania (2016); Channels: and with many small Ceremonies (Azerbaijan, 2015); musicals Brynna has recently completed He is also in demand as a performer Windmill Baby of Performing Arts to study Theatre the Australian Video Art Festival, monologue/Duologue performances. including , and costume work on , directed after recently returning from a US Production. Tegan then worked as a Rock of Ages King Kong; The Season Melbourne (2015); CLIMARTE, and arts festivals across Australia. by Isaac Drandic (2017). During her tour with the Black Arm Band, as In her nearly 15 year career Eva freelance Lighting Technician before Melbourne (2015); Instalakcje #3, time at the VCA she designed the well as singing with Buried Country has worn several hats in the Theatre becoming Head Electrician at The Poland (2014); National Gallery of set for HOLT! Who Goes There? a and Ulumbarra shows as they Industry including Director, Admin­ Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne in Victoria’s Melbourne Now (2013); Art BROCK BROCKLESBY devised theatre piece presented at tour the country. Originally from istration, Stage Manager, Tour 2007. While facilitating large scale and About Sydney (2013); Video, an STAGE MANAGER the Melbourne Fringe Festival (2016), Sydney, he has been keeping quite Manager, Producer, Event Manager, productions Tegan was inspired Art, a History 1965 – 2010: designed and made costumes for busy in the Aboriginal communities Actor, Dramaturge, Lecturer in watching lighting masters at work, Brock has worked in the arts and A Selection from the Centre Pompidou Benjamin Hancock’s contemporary across the Kulin Nations as an Character and Script Analysis, and 2011 saw her return to study to cultural events landscape for 30 years. and Singapore dance piece for Dance On (2016), actor and photographer. Collaborating Director, Workshops develop her skill as a lighting designer. Starting out as a volunteer ‘go-fer’ at Art Museum Collections (2011); worked as prop maker for 42nd Coordinator and many more. In 2016 events such as Moomba & Melbourne Melbourne Festival (2010); Our Cities, In 2013 Tegan completed her Street directed by Gary Young Eva Directed Festival, Brock now has extensive Cambodia (2010); and The Laneways North West of Nowhere training at The Western Australian (2015) and was the costume maker by Kamarra Bell-Wykes with ILBIJERRI experience as a tour manager, safety Commission, City of Melbourne (2009). Academy of Performing Arts and has for Cloudstreet directed by Julián Theatre Company for a Vic regional officer, company coordinator and since designed for theatre in Perth, Fuentes Reta (2015). tour and is currently Development production manager. Her specialty Melbourne and Dublin Ireland. Design Producer for the Australian Blackfulla however is stage management. She credits include The Cockatoos (Happy Performing Arts Alliance (BPAA). In has stage managed at most Australian Dagger Theatre Co.) The Mercy Seat 2017 Eva has been a Dramaturg for State festivals as well as for many and (Big Budgie Productions), The Dreaming Yellamundie Indigenous Playwrights varied commercial productions; but her Hill & Punk Rock (WA Youth Theatre Festival for Moogahlin as part of the preference is to work for companies with Co.), The Swell Party & Deeper (Smock Sydney Festival; currently working for more than money at their heart – Circus Alley Theatre Dublin), What Do They ILBIJERRI Theatre Company Directing Oz, Black Arm Band, Buried Country Call Me? (TEEM Productions), Yirra Corranderrk by Andrea James and Enterprises and of course, ILBIJERRI YarnZ (Yirra Yarkin Theatre Co.), Giordano Nanni for a National Tour; Theatre company. Brock has toured 3 Seeds (Always Working Artists), then returning to WA by invitation extensively, locally, internationally, and Uncle Jack (Ross Lonnie Co.), Sea to Direct the WAAPA Aboriginal into remote communities. Inside (Dr Russya Connor Co.) Performance students graduating showcase piece. Tegan is thankful and a little bit humbled to be part of the team who are sharing the story of Coranderrk.