Patyegarang

Patyegarang
Bangarra Dance Theatre. Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House, June 13 – July 5, 2014; Canberra Theatre Centre, July 17 to 19; State Theatre Centre of Western Australia, July 30 to August 2; Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), August 15 to 23, Arts Centre Melbourne, August 28 to September 6.

Celebrating its 25thyear of dance theatre, Bangarra solidifies its essential place in the Australian cultural landscape with Patyegarang.

Patyegarang brings to life a moment of ‘first contact’ in Australia’s colonial history based upon the diaries of Lieutenant William Dawes. On the First Fleet’s arrival in the late 18thCentury, Eora woman Patyegarang befriends Dawes and teaches him the ways of the land. From language to rituals and cultural customs, Patyegarang bravely and proudly opens the inquisitive Lieutenant’s mind to the ways of the Eora people.

Dawes’ notebooks documenting his time with Patyegarang were only recently re-discovered in 1972 by Australian librarian Phyllis Mander-Jones and it wasn’t until dramaturg Alana Valentine happened upon them at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies in 2012 that this beautifully rich Australian story truly found a voice.

Choreographer and artistic director Stephen Page makes full use of Bangarra’s meaning, ‘to make fire’, in this dance work. His evocative and dynamic choreography immediately wraps you in a spiritual energy and makes vivid those historically youthful and tantalising moments of discovery.

Page’s master vision is fully enhanced by David Page’s poetic compositions, Jacob Nash’s minimalistic but highly symbolic set design, Jennifer Irwin’s gorgeous, nymph-like costume design and Nick Schlieper’s effortless lighting design.

Bangarra’s finely-tuned and cohesive company of dancers complete the picture. Their outstanding technique coupled with a focused and reverent performance allowed the story to unravel in continuous waves of fresh encounter. Jasmin Sheppard is captivating in the title role and as the only non-Indigenous performer, guest artist Thomas Greenfield’s William Dawes fittingly encapsulates the energy and lifeforce of the outsider-come-friend.

Just like Patyegarang was a messenger of Indigenous culture to Dawes, this production is a messenger of Indigenous culture to the wider community. Patyegarang exemplifies the noble mission of bringing cultures together through the performing arts and proves that theatre-making can be the most potent cause of positive change.

Maryann Wright

Images: (top and bottom) Bangarra Ensemble & (middle) Thomas Greenfield and Leonard Mickelo - Bangarra - Patyegarang. Photographer: Jess Bialek

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