The incomparable storytellers of Bangarra Dance Theatre will perform their major new work Yuldea at the Griffith Regional Theatre on Saturday 9 March 2024.
Frances Rings' first work as Artistic Director is a ceremonial affirmation of history and heritage. Yuldea awakens the earth and sky worlds to tell the story of the A?angu people of the Great Victorian Desert.
Yuldea explores the moment traditional life collided with the industrial ambition of a growing nation. In 1917, the two halves of the Transcontinental Railway met at the precious water soak on the edge of the Nullarbor, Yuldi Kapi.
Great metal serpents scarred the landscape, draining all water from the sacred soak. Then came the black mist of the atomic testing at Maralinga, forcing the A?angu people to leave their desert homelands where they had lived for millennia.
Now memories lay scattered, like the A?angu people, displaced from their home. Remnants of colonial progress are swallowed by sand. But the A?angu endure, determined to keep strong their knowledge systems of land and sky, honouring their eternal bonds of kinship between people and place.
Yuldea features original music by Leon Rodgers with featured songs by multi-award-winning duo Electric Fields (Zaachariaha Fielding and Michael Ross). Designers Elizabeth Gadsby (Set), Jennifer Irwin (Costume) and Karen Norris (Lighting) create a desert world on stage.
Griffith Regional Theatre Manager, Marg Andreazza, said "We're so excited to have Bangarra Dance Theatre back on our stage, they are such an incredible company and patrons might recall their sold-out production of SPIRIT in 2021, which was amazing. This new production from Bangarra will be brilliant and we can't wait to see it!"
Bangarra Dance Theatre is performing at Griffith Regional Theatre on Saturday 9 March at 7.30pm. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander audiences should be aware that this production contains voices of deceased persons.
Tickets can be purchased from the Box Office, by calling 6962 8444 or visiting www.griffithregionaltheatre.com.au