WORLD PREMIERE An Ensemble Theatre Production in association with Sydney Festival BY GEOFFREY ATHERDEN 4 JAN – 8 FEB 2020 This project has been assisted by the Australian Principal Government through the Australia Council for Donor the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body. WELCOME Ensemble Theatre is privileged to create and tell stories on the beautiful country of the Cammeraigal people. I’m thrilled that in 2020, the year we launch our first Reconciliation Action Plan, we’re kick- ACKNOWLEDGEMENT starting the season with a brand new Australian work TO COUNTRY of such cultural significance. BLACK COCKATOO Ensemble Theatre proudly is a unique collaboration between two wonderful acknowledges the creative artists, writer Geoffrey Atherden and director A MESSAGE FROM THE PLAYWRIGHT A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR Cammeraigal people of the Wesley Enoch, inspired by the fascinating story of GEOFFREY ATHERDEN WESLEY ENOCH Eora nation as customary First Nations cricketer Johnny ‘Unaarrimin’ Mullagh In 1868, a team of Aboriginal cricketers Australian Cricket is full of characters and owners of the land on which we and Australia’s first international sporting team. travelled to England, the first team from stories, some we know about but many we work. Their spirit lives on This play had a long, exciting development period anywhere in the world to play against don’t. Few would know about the first ever in the stories we share. and I wish to thank everyone involved, particularly the English in the home of cricket. BLACK Australian team to tour to England; the We would also like to The Balnaves Foundation and Sydney Festival for COCKATOO is based on this little known fact that it was made up of 13 Aboriginal acknowledge the Jardwadjali, their support throughout. We are also very grateful piece of our history. cricketers from Western Victoria, that one Gunditjmara and Wotjobaluk for the special cultural guidance of Uncle Richard player died and was buried in London people whose ancestors Kennedy who has worked closely with this talented It’s a story of triumph and tragedy, or that Johnny Mullagh was our first inspired the story of creative team and exceptional First Nations cast – promises and betrayal, people smuggling Australian sporting hero. Telling neglected BLACK COCKATOO. expect an exhilarating night at the theatre! (in the other direction) and it celebrates stories is what theatre can do so well. Australia’s first Indigenous sporting hero, Through the insightful and emotional CONTENT WARNING Mark Kilmurry Unaarramin, known as Johnny Mullagh. renderings of characters we can get closer Artistic Director Aboriginal and Torres Strait It’s a great story and, I think, an important to the human endeavour. Islander audiences are story, a part of the shared history between The decision to have an all Indigenous advised that this program and black and white Australia. It’s also about A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRINCIPAL DONOR cast, where the actors are playing all the the show contain depictions of the truth; about which truth we choose to roles including white English characters, people who have died. The Balnaves Foundation is proud to support tell and why we make that choice. is a way of owning the whole story and BLACK COCKATOO, a historically significant and providing a commentary on the race ground-breaking production. We’re thrilled to have politics. Actors switch seamlessly from been involved from the early inception witnessing being actors today, Aboriginal characters the collaboration between iconic playwright in 2018 and a range of characters in 1868. Geoffrey Atherden and visionary director Wesley Time and place are fluid as we connect Enoch, and watching the creative development the past, present and future to tell unfold into this captivating new Australian work. this story. Philanthropy plays a crucial role in ensuring bold We’re excited about presenting BLACK productions like this come to fruition. We need COCKATOO and extend a huge thank to hear stories that advance reconciliation. The you to everyone involved in the lengthy Foundation commends the courageous steps development process. Enjoy the show and BLACK COCKATOO takes to sharing this truth the making of history. with Sydney audiences and beyond, with a regional tour in the pipeline. Hamish Balnaves Chief Executive Officer The Balnaves Foundation AUSTRALIA’S FIRST XI “No arrival has been anticipated with so much curiosity and interest as that of the Black Cricketers from Australia.” A MESSAGE FROM OUR Sporting CULTURAL CONSULTANT Life, 16 May 1868 UNCLE RICHARD KENNEDY With this notice the press announced the arrival of the first Australian cricketers Wotjobaluk traditional owner and great, to tour England, a team of Aboriginals great grandson of First XI team member who had their beginnings on Western Yangendyinanyuk (Dik-a-Dik) Victoria cattle and sheep stations. William The play shows the remarkable skills Hayman, owner of Lake Wallace station, and abilities of a group of Indigenous formed a team of men from three tribes: people and how they displayed their Jardwadjali, Gunditjmara and Wotjobaluk. culture to the world. Before long Charles Lawrence, an ex All-England cricketer, began coaching Many of the First XI team members the men and by February 1868 they were The First Australian Cricket Team, Swansea, 1868. Source: Cricket Australia were Wotjobaluk men and conversed in ready to set sail for England. the Wergaia language - the language you will hear in BLACK COCKATOO. After arriving in May the team was subjected to a gruelling schedule against balls hurled at him. These ‘Aboriginal Indigenous language provides a powerful THE TEAM OF 1868 intermediate-level English amateur sports’ often drew large crowds due to their connection to culture and knowledge. TRADITIONAL NAME* EUROPEAN NAME Everything is connected through teams. The Australians surprised their novelty and the players’ skill. language; it represents life. competitors with their sporting prowess, Overall the matches were well attended, NGARRAMUNIDYARRIMIN Peter winning 14, losing 14 and drawing 19 of with the first event at Surrey’s home These cricketers demonstrated incredible their 47 matches. BALARRIMIN NYARRINGIN Sundown versatility by adapting traditional ways ground, the Oval, drawing 20,000 BUNBARRNGITY Tiger of learning as well as embracing new “No eleven has in one season ever played spectators. But on their return to Australia, BRIMBUNYA Red Cap environments, and putting their belief so many matches... so successfully – most of the cricketers went back to BRIPUKI King Cole and trust in new people, to master skills never playing fewer than two matches in station life. In 1869, the introduction of the BALDYANYUK Bullocky n/a (captain/coach) Charles Lawrence such as reading and writing in English. each week, and frequently three, bearing Aboriginal Protection Act in Victoria, which an amount of fatigue that now seems corralled Aboriginal people onto reserves GARRANG Mosquito BLACK COCKATOO also explores the incredible...” Sporting Life, 28 October 1868 and required signed permission for them MURRUMGUNARRIMAN) Two Penny attitude towards Indigenous people at to leave, made it difficult for Indigenous YANGENDYINANYUK Dik-a-Dik Unaarrimin, a Wotjobaluk man also known DYALATY MURRIMIN Jim Crow that time and how they coped with this players to continue playing competitive as Johnny Mullagh, was the standout BRIPUMGUNARRIMAN Charles Dumas treatment. The achievement of the First performer. An all-rounder, he scored 1,698 cricket. UNAARRIMIN Johnny Mullagh XI is one of the greatest in Australia’s runs, bowled 1,877 overs — 831 of which Unaarrimin, however, continued to play DYILANUK Johnny Cuzens sporting history and it is not well known. were maidens, and took 245 wickets. and represented Victoria against a touring Over recent times awareness has grown England side in 1879, top scoring with 36 in * Spelling of names provided in Wergaia language. and the play will evoke even more The team also performed a range of the second innings. The Johnny Mullagh discussion around this significant event. ‘traditional’ sports and displayed skills such as boomerang and spear throwing. One memorial trophy is named in his honour member of the team, Yangendyinanyuk, and the Harrow Discovery Centre is also known as ‘Dik-a-Dik’, used a club dedicated to telling the story of the First XI. and shield to deflect and dodge cricket BY GEOFFREY ATHERDEN GEOFFREY ATHERDEN WESLEY ENOCH PLAYWRIGHT DIRECTOR Geoffrey is best known for Wesley Enoch hails his multi award winning from Stradbroke Island television comedy series (Minjeribah) in Queensland MOTHER AND SON. and is a proud Noonuccal Other television work Nuugi man. He is a writer This Ensemble Development Project includes, GRASS ROOTS which received 7 AFI and director for the stage and joined Sydney was made possible by the generosity awards including two for Best Screenplay; Festival as Artistic Director in 2015. He was of our supporters. EGGSHELLS and ONE DAY MILLER, both creative consultant, segment director and award winning situation comedy series Indigenous advisor for the opening and closing CAST and BABAKIUERIA, which was given a ceremonies of the Gold Coast Commonwealth JOSEPH ALTHOUSE BRANDON/ENSEMBLE United Nations Media Peace Award. His Games in 2018; the Artistic Director of LUKE CARROLL CURATOR play WARNING: EXPLICIT MATERIAL was Queensland Theatre Company from 2010 CHENOA DEEMAL TINA/LADY BARDWELL part of Ensemble Theatre’s 2011 season – 2015; Associate Artistic