Muniak Mulana – Future Spirit

Muniak Mulana – Future Spirit
Created and performed by Neil Morris and Brent Watkins. Produced by Deadly Fringe. Producer Laila Thaker. Melbourne Fringe. La Mama Courthouse. Sep 11 – 16, 2018

Dreamtime is an intrinsic part of spiritual life in Aboriginal lore;  belief system interweaving flora and fauna relationships goes back to the ancestral spirits in country.

Muniak Mulana is a poignant and insightful  duo performance piece that looks into the past, delivers the present and looks into the future.  It begins in pre- colonial times when spirituality and beliefs were inextricably linked to the land.

Brent Watkins is Gunnnaikurnai and Yamaji and Neil Morris is a Yorta Yorta. Both combine tribal dreamtimes, unifying their individual indigenous identities to reflect and signify the raw genocidal ugliness toward their ancestors and the bludgeoning and gross misrepresentation of their people. The two performers navigate the staged corroboree space with exceptional ease whilst weaving in intergenerational ceremonial practices.

Watkins choreographs his style of Aboriginal dance fusing modern physical movement to evoke the changing terrain. Morris, a musician and performer cloaked in possum skin, carries an elder-like presence, delivering poignant rap-style anecdotes with fierce dignity and powerful delivery. Sound design is an astounding fusion of traditional indigenous, nature sounds and an electronic ambient blend.

Leaflets are placed on every seat to remind the audience of the stringent ‘Asssimilation mission for the future of the great nation of Australia’ - a vivid reminder of a potential threat of eradication to spiritual Dreamtime, circa 1951.

Brent Watkins and Neil Morris both live in Naarm (Melbourne) and work closely within and broadly across all communities, culturally educating with performance, music and storytelling. Watkins has his own brand, Culture Evolves. Morris works under his label DRMNGNOW, a cultural performer who has recently released two singles with international critical praise.

Flora Georgiou

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