TimeOut Trusting your gut feeling

Play by Indigenous for Indigenous children to take stage across the Cape

l CAPE YORK | Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

JUTE Theatre Company’s residency program Dare to Dream is set to begin its tour across the Far North with an all-First Nations play, I Gut this Feeling, aiming to teach children to trust their intuition.

From May 22 and for 13 weeks, the all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cast and crew will bring I Gut This Feeling to Mossman, Weipa, Mapoon, Lockhart River and Normanton to build safer communities.

Aimed at school students from years 4 to 9, I Gut this Feeling, directed by Isaac Dandric, tells the story of a young girl, Djirra, trying to make her way back home through a strange world, showcasing the importance of trusting your gut when things don’t feel right.

JUTE’s creative producer Monica Stevens said Dare to Dream, established in 2016, aimed to inspire Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to express themselves through theatre.

“Embracing the heuristic spirit of Dare to Dream’s residency program, I Gut this Feeling is a culmination of everything Dare to Dream stands for, primarily the positive impact theatre can make on the lives of young people in remote centres,” Ms Stevens said.

“I Gut this Feeling is a twohander, 30-minute show. We spend a week in the community. First, we do a school performance, and then we do a residency that teaches children about trusting your instincts – if you’re in danger how to protect yourself.”

The protagonist of I Gut this Feeling, Jamaylya BallangarryKearins, who plays Djirra, said remote Indigenous communities needed representation.

“The foundational themes of the play focus on intuition in moments where your gut doesn’t feel quite right,” Ms Ballangarry-Kearins said.

“Representation is crucial.

I’m a big believer that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people need to be the controllers of their narrative, and theatre is narrative-driven, so to bring that industry is super important.

“I’m very Aboriginal, so it’s nice to have someone who looks like me go up there and plant a seed of growth and for them to learn this information in a kind and safe space.”

I Gut this Feeling is also based on the Westpac Safer Children, Safer Communities work program objectives covering sensitive topics, focusing on addressing and preventing childhood trauma.

Indie rock group at Gilligans

l CAIRNS CBD

WESTERN Australia’s polished indie-rockers Ghost Care are gearing up to join Spacey Jane as their main support for a string of east-coast stops in May and June, including Cairns.

“It’s super exciting to get on the road again with our mates Spacey Jane,” the trio said.

“It’s going to be great to jump out of WA and get to some places over east we haven’t played yet.

“This tour is exactly what we were hoping to do a bit of this year.

“It’s been a crazily busy period over the last couple months for all three of us and we’re really stoked to be digging our heels into some new music, touring and shows.”

“We want kids to find the confidence to speak up if something’s wrong, and the program identifies for them trusted people and organisations in their community,” Ms Steven said.

For more information on the Dare to Dream program, visit the JUTE website or click the following link in our online editikon: https://bit.ly/42XkE8t

In the three years the trio have been riffing, Ghost Care have carved out a devout following. With a nomination best pop act in the WAM Awards alongside San Cisco, Spacey Jane and Stella Donnelly under their belt, 2023 is the year they capitalise on their growth and kick it into the next gear.

They will be performing at Gilligans on Sunday, June 4. For tickets go to: www.spaceyjane.com.au