CULTURE, COMMUNITY & CONVERSATION

Located on beautiful Wadawurrung Country, the regional cultural institution Geelong Arts Centre recognises that stories, song, dance, ceremony and art have been shared on this land for millennia as an expression of identity, culture, spirituality and relationship to Country.

Æ Committed to a long-lasting reconciliation journey that acknowledges, respects, includes and responds to First Nations community, and connects First Peoples’ stories and voices with the broader community through meaningful artwork, performance and conversation, Geelong Arts Centre is bringing some awesome First Peoples-led events across National Reconciliation Week and beyond.

I LIKED IT, BUT…

Up for something a little different? How about pub trivia with a contemporary dance twist at Little Creatures?

From 11 – 13 May, the brainchild of proud Wiradjuri man, Joel Bray, I Liked It, BUT… takes “experimental contemporary immersive performance” out of the theatre and into the bar, to see what passes the “pub test’.

Served with tongue firmly in cheek, I Liked It, BUT… caters to a broad range of entertainment seekers. Know heaps/nothing about contemporary dance? Come along! Love self-deprecation and some good pub humour? You’ll love this. Keen to open your mind to the world of performance art from the casual comfort of Geelong’s most iconic village brewery? This show has you covered!

A creator, choreographer, and performer, Joel Bray’s practice is inextricably linked to his cultural heritage. Using his body as a vessel for storytelling and evolution, Joel invites audiences to explore the experiences of fair-skinned Aboriginal people and the experiences of contemporary gay men in an increasingly isolated world.

I Liked It, BUT… hits Little Creatures’ Furphy Hall from 11 – 13 May and limited places remain. Get active in your group chat, lock in a date with your mates, and secure your seats now. Tickets cost $25 - $39.

The Visitors

Through both conversation and performance, Geelong Arts Centre puts the spotlight on stories that challenge, inspire, and deserve to be told. Visitors leave, right?

Coming to The Story House stage from 1 – 4 November, the renowned Sydney Theatre Company and Moogahlin Performing Arts present The Visitors; a powerful, imaginative response to the beginnings of modern Australia.

Famed for her plays Stolen and Rainbow’s End, Muruwari playwright Jane Harrison turns her attention to that pivotal moment when the First Fleet dropped anchor.

A riveting, deeply researched insight into one of the most impactful and painful days in Australia’s history, and a hugely entertaining study of how communities respond to change and the unknown.

On a sweltering day in January 1788, seven clan leaders gather on a sandstone escarpment overlooking the harbour. The attendees, six of them Elders and one new initiate, catch up, laugh together, share a meal and compare notes. But beyond the friendly banter, protocols, and hospitality, a momentous decision is waiting to be made.

After its Sydney Theatre Award-winning premiere production at the 2020 Sydney Festival, The Visitors will be reworked for this brand new production directed by one of Australia’s most celebrated directors, Quandamooka man Wesley Enoch AM.

This is powerful, truth-telling theatre at its rawest. Tickets cost $49–$75.

Make sure you stay in the loop by signing up for Geelong Arts Centre’s fortnightly What’s On e-newsletter at geelongartscentre.org.au

Plus, got a penchant for First Nations arts experiences?

Stay up to date with all upcoming First Nations performances and events by selecting ‘First Peoples Programming’ when nominating your interests.

CULTURAL CONVERSATIONS: RECONCILIATION WEEK 2023

Kicking off from 27 May - 3 June, the theme for National Reconciliation Week 2023 is Be A Voice for Generations. The week invites Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people to gather, join the conversation, ask questions, and walk together on a journey to reconciliation.

Facilitated by proud Gunditjmara actor and playwright, Tom Molyneux, join a panel of local First Nations artists, respected community members, and allies for this free event as they come together to examine the tangible ways in which we can all use our power and words to be a voice for reconciliation in our everyday lives.

Hear from Member for Geelong and Parliamentary Secretary for First Peoples, Christine Couzens MP; proud Worimi artist, Gerard Black; dual-premiership former Geelong Cats football star, Matthew Stokes; Proud Adnyamathanha woman, entrepreneur and Arranyinha business owner, Marsha Uppill; and spend the afternoon immersed in a yarning circle, exploring how to “Be a Voice for Generations: Act today for a reconciled tomorrow”.

Now in its third year, Geelong Arts Centre’s Cultural Conversations series aims to bring First Nations voices and stories to the forefront and to provide a culturally safe space in which to engage in shared learning and important discussions.

Registration is free but essential – capacity is strictly limited.

CULTURAL CONVERSATIONS: TRUTH TELLING, TRUTH LISTENING

But that’s not all! Taking place at 5:30pm on 2 November, duck between Geelong Arts Centre’s The Open House and The Story House theatres and heighten your learning with a discussion to compliment the performance of The Visitors.

Come together with a brand new panel to reflect on what it means to truly, deeply listen and acknowledge the histories of Australia’s First Peoples.

With so much discussion about Australia’s readiness for truth-telling, maybe it’s time to flip the script… First Peoples have been telling their truth for more than 200 years; maybe what requires attention now, more than ever, is our readiness to engage in truth-listening.

In a conversation that holds space for First Nations voices from the local community, this Cultural Conversations event will examine the role that theatre can play in communicating truths to audiences who are ready to listen, and how we all have a role to play in navigating Australia’s difficult history.

Registration is free but essential, with panellists to be announced soon.