THE SHADOW KING
11 – 27 OCTOBER
Photography: Pia Johnson
Malthouse Theatre and Melbourne Festival present
THE SHADOW KING Co-Created by Tom E. Lewis & Michael Kantor Directed by Michael Kantor Associate Director Melodie Reynolds-Diarra Translation by the Cast Music Director John Rodgers Sound Design Kelly Ryall Lighting Design Paul Jackson Set Design Paul Jackson, Michael Kantor & David Miller Props & Costume Design Ruby Langton-Batty Dramaturg Marion Potts Music Consultant Iain Grandage Film Natasha Gadd, Rhys Graham & Murray Lui Cast Jada Alberts, Jimi Bani, Frances Djulibing, Rarriwuy Hick, Damion Hunter, Kamahi Djordon King, Tom E. Lewis, Natasha Wanganeen Band Selwyn Burns, Djakapurra Munyarryun, Bart Willoughby Associate Producer Jason Tamiru Stage Manager Lisa Osborn Assistant Stage Manager Arthur Jackson Vocal Coach Suzanne Heywood Fight Choreographer Robert Shook Traditional Items by Djilpin Arts MERLYN THEATRE 11 – 27 OCTOBER Supported by the Tom Kantor Fund. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government’s Major Festivals Initiative, managed by the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body, in association with the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals – Melbourne Festival, Sydney Festival, Perth International Arts Festival, Adelaide Festival and Brisbane Festival.
DIRECTOR’S NOTE When I first met with Tom Lewis some years ago in his home town of Katherine, he described to me what was happening in his community: arguments over land and who had the right to decide what happens with it; families being torn apart by jealousy and greed over mining royalties; and issues of legitimacy eating into traditional ways. Tom turned to me and said, “It’s a tragedy, just like that King Lear story of yours.” Thus was born an idea that we have both held dear: to tell a white man’s dreamtime story, one of the foundation stories of contemporary western civilisation, but use it to question and probe contemporary Indigenous experience, particularly as it is now in Northern Australia. Language, we felt, would be key. In the north, Indigenous Australians speak a cornucopia of languages, freely traversing between English, Kriol (often very specific to their area) and traditional tongues, with borrowed words and ideas flying between phrases – it is the richest of aural landscapes. Our adaptation of Lear has chosen to grab Shakespeare’s remarkable and profound narrative and tell it in the actors’ own words, sometimes retaining a whole phrase from the Bard, sometimes fully translating them into Kriol or Yolgnu Marta. We have been liberal with our storytelling, and purposely call the production The Shadow King so as not to offend the purists, but we hope, nonetheless, to offer you a powerful rendering of the Lear tragedy – of and for our times. Lear always is and remains a man who must learn humility, and remake his relationship to his ancestors, family and power, on the hardest of journeys. He must learn to see again, and hear again, a salient lesson for us all as we struggle with the most ancient of concepts – that we cannot own the land; the land owns us. Michael Kantor
Photography: Pia Johnson
JADA ALBERTS PERFORMER Jada is from the top end of Australia, Larrakia, Yanuwa, Bardi, and Wardaman country. She graduated in 2006 from the Adelaide Centre for the Arts and in 2007 won the Adelaide Critics' Circle Award for Best Emerging Artist. Jada has appeared on stage in Frost/Nixon and The Birthday Party (Melbourne Theatre Company); Second to None (Vitalstatistix/Kurruru Performing Arts); Cat (Windmill Performing Arts); Yibiyung (Belvoir/Malthouse Theatre); Wulamanayuwi and the Seven Pamanui (Darwin Festival); The Green Sheep (Cate Fowler); and several national and international tours of Saltbush (Insight Arts). Jada was Assistant Director of Windmill Baby for Belvoir and has also participated in creative development projects for Melbourne Workers’ Theatre, Arena Theatre, RealTV and State Theatre Company of South Australia. This year she has appeared in This Heaven (Belvoir); Hipbone Sticking Out (YijilaYala/Big hART); had her play Brothers Wreck programmed in the Belvoir 2014 season and won the Balnaves Foundation Indigenous Playwrights Award. Jada appeared in the feature film Red Hill and on television in Rush, Redfern Now, Wentworth and the upcoming Wentworth II.
JIMI BANI PERFORMER Since graduating from WAAPA in 2007, Jimi has performed a variety of leading roles on stage and in television. Theatre credits include The Dragon (Malthouse Theatre); Peter Pan (Belvoir); The Sapphires (Belvoir/ Black Swan State Theatre Company); Krakouer (Deckchair Theatre Company), Yibiyung (Belvoir/Malthouse Theatre); and Jandamarra (Black Swan State Theatre Company). Jimi’s television credits include roles in The Straits and Remote Area Nurses. Jimi played the historic role of Koiki “Eddie” Mabo in Mabo for Blackfella Films, Peter Gibson in Redfern Now, and
was a contributing speaker in The People Speak for WTFN Television. Jimi was nominated for a 2009 Helpmann Award for Yibiyung; a Silver Logie for Best Male Lead in Television Drama for Mabo in 2013; and the AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama for Mabo. He received the 2012 BOFA Award for Best Actor, and Best Male Actor in the 2012 Deadly Awards.
SELWYN BURNS MUSICIAN Selwyn is a key figure in the history of Aboriginal rock music. He joined Coloured Stone and, with Bunna Lawrie, penned some of the classics of Aboriginal rock music. Alongside Bart Willoughby, Selwyn founded Mixed Relations in 1989 and went on to tour Australia and the Pacific Islands before settling down to have a family. His older son Tjimba Possum Burns has also followed a musical career, forming the hip-hop outfit The Yung Warriors. As his kids grew up Selwyn revived his musical career and got together with Kutcha Edwards and Grant Hansen to form Blackfire, 1992-1999, with whom he toured around Australia and to Asia. After their debut album A Time to Dream, Selwyn played on the live circuit and recorded Blackfire’s Night Vision. Later Selwyn recorded some new songs for his solo album Aboriginal Land, dedicated to his grandmother Marge Tucker, the founder of the Aboriginal Advancement League, and his mother Molly Dyer, the founder of the Aboriginal Child Care Agency. At present he is lead guitarist for The Bart Willoughby Band and Coloured Stone, touring and recording new albums with both bands. Earlier this year The Bart Willoughby Band released Proud. Selwyn is currently in the final stages of recording the forthcoming Coloured Stone album Dance to the Sun, to be released later this year.
FRANCES DJULIBING PERFORMER Frances Djulibing was discovered whist working in a local shop in Ramingining by film director Rolf de Heer. She was cast in de Heer’s 2006 movie Ten Canoes as Nowalingu, and the following year performed the role of the mother in Crocodile Dreaming. In 2008, Frances featured in an autobiographical documentary about her journey from traditional tribal life to red carpets and award ceremonies. Frances is a recognised artist, leading workshops at the Museum of Contemporary Art in 2013.
NATASHA GADD FILMMAKER Natasha Gadd is a Melbourne-based filmmaker whose most recent documentary murundak – songs of freedom, about the Aboriginal protest music of The Black Arm Band, was recipient of the Grand Prix at FIFO and SEMINCI, a UN Media Peace Award and an Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts award for Best Sound. Other documentaries include Muscle (Australian Directors Guild Award for Best Direction in a Documentary) and Words from the City (nominated for five AFI awards). Natasha has directed music video clips for artists including Dan Sultan and Archie Roach and has created screen content for major cultural institutions including the National Portrait Gallery and Museum Victoria as well as creating screen visuals for Seven Songs to Leave Behind, Notes from the Hard Road, Murundak and Dirtsong. She has just completed Weather, a half-hour documentary about contemporary dance choreographer Lucy Guerin, for ABC Artscape.
RHYS GRAHAM FILMMAKER Rhys Graham’s films include feature documentaries murundak – songs of freedom (winning FIFO’s Grand Prix; Valladolid Film Festival’s Time In History first prize and Jury Special Mention; and a UN Media Peace Award) and Words from the City (nominated for five AFI Awards including Best Direction); short films Love This Time (Special Jury Mention at Berlinale 2006), Charm, Firestorm and Skin. Rhys’ film installations have been exhibited in Art Gallery of NSW, ACMI and the Asia Pacific Triennial, and he has created films for live performances at the Melbourne, Sydney and LIFT (London) Festivals. He co-wrote the book Short: Site, recent Australian Short Film and his essays have been published widely. Rhys has recently completed production on the fiction feature film Galore and the 'Small Mercies' chapter for Arenamedia’s portmanteau feature The Turning.
IAIN GRANDAGE MUSIC CONSULTANT Iain Grandage is a music director, cellist and composer of scores for theatre, dance and the concert hall. He has been Composer-in-Residence with the WA Symphony Orchestra and Black Swan State Theatre Company, and recipient both of the Ian Potter Emerging Composer Fellowship and the prestigious Sidney Myer Performing Arts Award. He has won Helpmann and Green Room Awards for theatre scores, which include The Secret River, Cloudstreet, The Blue Room, The Book of Everything, In the Next Room (or the Vibrator Play), Optimism, Vamp, The Odyssey and True West for companies including Belvoir, Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne Theatre Company, Sydney Theatre Company and Black Swan State Theatre Company. Iain’s concert works have
been performed by the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Brodsky String Quartet, Australian String Quartet, Craig Ogden and choirs and orchestras around Australia. He has completed orchestral arrangements for Tim Minchin, Ben Folds, The Whitlams, Tim Rogers, Sinead O’Connor and Gurrumul. Iain has worked as musical supervisor and arranger for The Black Arm Band and was conductor for the Tim Minchin vs the Symphony Orchestra 2012 tour.
RARRIWUY HICK PERFORMER Rarriwuy is from North East Arnem Land in the Northern Territory. She has performed in Wrong Skin (Ngurrumilmaramiriwu) (Sydney Opera House/Malthouse Theatre/Adelaide Festival/Darwin Festival); and Bloodland (Sydney Theatre Company/Bangarra Dance Theatre). Rarriwuy has also appeared in numerous short films, including She Say, which screened at the Sydney Film Festival. Most recently Rarriwuy appeared opposite Wayne Blair in the ABC TV series Redfern Now. In addition to acting, Rarriwuy is also a singer, dancer and choreographer.
DAMION HUNTER PERFORMER Damion graduated from NIDA in 1998 and has since performed in a variety of theatre, television and film productions. He performed in Romeo and Juliet (Sydney Theatre Company); Eating Ice Cream (Queensland Theatre Company); and played the title role in Jandamarra, touring throughout the Kimberleys, for which he received a 2011 Helpmann Award nomination. His television credits include Redfern Now, Devil’s Dust, Supernova (UKTV/ BBC), All Saints, Farscape, The Bill, and the role of Jimmy Krakouer in Killing Time.
ARTHUR JACKSON ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER Arthur studied Multimedia & Media Business at NMIT, after which he worked for 3knd in 2010, initially as the Admin/Broadcaster trainee and then in media, IT and as a cameraman for special projects. Arthur was an assistant editor for the documentary Living in Two Worlds, which aired on NITV. He has also done volunteer work for SKA TV on channel 31, and is currently studying a Diploma in Screen and Media.
PAUL JACKSON LIGHTING & SET DESIGNER Paul is Associate Artist (Design) at Malthouse Theatre. He has designed lighting for Malthouse Theatre, The Australian Ballet, Royal New Zealand Ballet, Melbourne Theatre Company, West Australian Ballet, Victorian Opera, West Australian Opera, Sydney Theatre Company, Belvoir, BalletLab, Lucy Guerin Inc., World of Wearable Art New Zealand, La Mama, not yet it’s difficult performance group, Chamber Made Opera, and many others. Paul’s work has featured in festivals in Asia, Europe and the United Kingdom, and he has lectured in design at the University of Melbourne, RMIT University and Victorian College of the Arts. Paul has received a number of Green Room Awards and nominations for design, as well as receiving the 2012 Helpmann Award for lighting design. He was named in The Bulletin’s Smart 100 for 2004 and was the Gilbert Spottiswood Churchill Fellow for 2007.
MICHAEL KANTOR DIRECTOR & SET DESIGNER Michael Kantor was Artistic Director of Malthouse Theatre from 2005 to 2010. Malthouse Theatre credits include Sleeping Beauty, The Ham Funeral, Not Like Beckett, Journal of the Plague Year, Babes in the Wood, The Odyssey (with Melbourne Festival and Perth International Arts Festival), Through The Looking Glass (with Victorian Opera), Vamp, Woyzeck, Optimism (with Sydney Theatre Company/ Sydney Festival/Edinburgh International Festival), Happy Days, Elizabeth – Almost by Chance a Woman, The Threepenny Opera (with STC), and A Golem Story. Other credits include Excavation (Adelaide Festival); Natural Life (Adelaide Festival/ Playbox Theatre Company, also presented as Natural Life 2 at the Lincoln Centre, New York); Lenz (Melbourne Festival); Meat Party (Playbox Theatre Company); Howard Katz (STC); The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Macbeth, The Ham Funeral and Ubu (Belvoir). Opera credits include The Burrow (Perth Festival) and Moon Spirit Feasting (Adelaide Festival). Michael directed Chunky Move’s 2003 Melbourne Festival production Tense Dave, which toured to Sydney, Perth and New York, and has collaborated with Barrie Kosky’s Gilgul Theatre, performing in The Dybbuk, Es Brent, The Wilderness Room and The Operated Jew. Michael’s first feature film The Boy Castaways premieres at the Adelaide International Film Festival in October.
KAMAHI DJORDON KING PERFORMER Kamahi is currently undertaking research for his Master of Arts at RMIT. He holds an Advanced Diploma in Performing Arts (ACPA) and Associate Diploma in Dance (NAISDA). Kamahi’s acting credits include Blood Link (Black Swan State Theatre Company/AMTTP); Romeo and Juliet (La Boite); The Sunshine Club (Queensland Theatre Company); Wuliamanayuwi and the Seven Pamanui (Darwin Festival/ Canberra Theatre Centre); and Caravan Burlesque (Finucane & Smith). Kamahi wrote, directed, produced and performed in the highly successful cabaret show Constantina Bush and the Bushettes. Kamahi was the recipient of the Uncle Jack Charles Award at the Victoria Indigenous Performing Arts Awards. He also received the 2011 CAL Victorian Indigenous Arts Award for works on paper.
RUBY LANGTON-BATTY PROPS & COSTUME DESIGNER Ruby graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts in 2010 with a Bachelor of Production. She designed the set and costumes for Beautiful One Day and Windmill Baby (Belvoir) and the costumes for Tough Beauty (Casula Powerhouse). Ruby was the Associate Designer for the 2012 Sydney Festival show I Am Eora (Performing Lines) and Costume Design Assistant for The Wild Duck (Belvoir). She assisted in the wardrobe department for ABC television series Redfern Now. In 2012 Ruby was the recipient of an Australia Council Arts Start Grant and in 2011 she was the winner of the Yvonne Cohen Award for Creative Indigenous Australian Youth. The Shadow King is her debut for Malthouse Theatre.
TOM E. LEWIS PERFORMER Tom E. Lewis was born and raised in South Eastern Arnhem Land, Northern Territory amongst the Murrungun tribe where today their lands are federally protected. For much of his early life he worked as a bricklayer and stockman, however his real ambition was to pursue a creative life. Tom earned his first breakthrough role as the title character in the film The Chant Of Jimmie Blacksmith, which received a Palme d'Or nomination at the 1978 Cannes Film Festival. Since then he has worked with many theatre companies including Malthouse Theatre and Melbourne Theatre Company, and has produced internationally recognised work. In a long and varied film career, Tom has played a multitude of complex, realistic and recognisable Indigenous characters, including recent feature film roles in The Proposition and Red Hill.
MURRAY LUI FILMMAKER Murray was born on Thursday Island and raised on Coconut Island in the Torres Strait. He is recognised as being one of, if not the first, Torres Strait Islander professional film and television cinematographer. A graduate of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, Murray works as a freelance film and television cinematographer. He is continually working within and searching out projects that interest and fuel his passion for the creative storytelling process.
DAVID MILLER SET DESIGNER & PRODUCTION MANAGER David started his career with Melbourne Theatre Company in 1979 as a stage manager. After leaving MTC in 1985, David worked as a freelance stage manager and tour manager for companies and festivals throughout Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the UK. Projects included Jerry’s Girls, Melbourne Festivals, Wizard of Oz, The Hunting of the Snark, Pam Ayres, Scrooge The Musical and West Side Story. In 1995 David joined IMG where he worked as production manager on tours including Shirley Bassey, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Shaolin Monks and Chicago. He was a founding member of The Production Company in 1999 and has worked on over 40 semi-staged musicals with them. In 2003 David became Production Manager at Malthouse Theatre, where he has worked on over 150 productions in the past nine years, including tours both nationally and internationally. In 2010 he was awarded the Green Room Award for Technical Achievement.
Djakapurra Munyarryun MUSICIAN Djakapurra was born in Yirrkala as a member of the Wangurri clan of northeast Arnhem Land. He was raised with traditional dance and ceremony as an integral part of his life. As a teenager he toured Australia with Elders from Yirrkala, teaching and conducting traditional dance and music workshops. Djakapurra was a featured performer in the opening and closing ceremonies of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and has worked with Bangarra Dance Theatre.
LISA OSBORN STAGE MANAGER Lisa works as a freelance stage manager and production manager in theatre and on arts events. Her Stage Management credits for Malthouse Theatre include Stories I Want to Tell You in Person, White Rabbit, Red Rabbit, Persona (with Fraught Outfit), Pompeii, L.A., On the Misconception of Oedipus, Blood Wedding, Opera XS: Another Lament (with Rawcus/Chamber Made Opera), The Wild Duck (with Belvoir), The Story of Mary MacLane by Herself, Baal (with Sydney Theatre Company) and Sappho‌in 9 Fragments. Other credits include: When The Rain Stops Falling (Brink Productions); Me and My Shadow (Patch Theatre Company); Man Covets Bird (Slingsby Theatre Company); G, Devolution and Ignition (Australian Dance Theatre); Three Sisters, Metro Street, Attempts on Her Life, The Female of the Species, Triple Threat, Noises Off and The Government Inspector (State Theatre Company SA); Cake (Ladykillers); Grug, Boom Bah!, Afternoon of the Elves, Two Weeks with the Queen, Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge (Windmill Theatre); and Beautiful Words (Oddbodies Theatre Company). Her recent Production/Stage Management credits include The Story of Mary MacLane by Herself (Ride On Theatre/ Performing Lines); and The Trilogy Presentation (Amplification, Miracle and Above) for BalletLab at MONA FOMA. Lisa has also worked in a range of roles on events including WOMADelaide, The Helpmann Awards and the Melbourne Commonwealth Games 2006 Cultural Festival.
MARION POTTS DRAMATURG Marion is Malthouse Theatre’s Artistic Director. She has worked with many of the country’s finest theatre companies and was most recently Bell Shakespeare’s Associate Artistic Director, creating its development arm Mind’s Eye. Marion was Resident Director for Sydney Theatre Company from 1995-1999. She curated the 2003 National Playwrights’ Conference, was a chairperson of World Interplay and a member of the Theatre Board of the Australia Council. Marion received the Helpmann Award for Best Direction of a Play in 2006. For Malthouse Theatre, Marion has directed The Dragon, Hate, Wild Surmise, Blood Wedding, Meow Meow’s Little Match Girl and its season at the Southbank Centre in London, ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore, Sappho... in 9 fragments, and Venus & Adonis (with Bell Shakespeare). Other theatre directing credits include: King Lear, The Taming of the Shrew, Hamlet, Othello (Bell Shakespeare); The Wonderful World of Dissocia, Playgrounds, Volpone, Don Juan, Life After George, Cyrano de Bergerac, The Crucible, Navigating, Del Del, Closer, The Herbal Bed, What Is The Matter With Mary Jane?, Pygmalion, Where Are We Now?, The Café Latte Kid, The Blessing, Two Weeks with the Queen (Sydney Theatre Company); Grace (Melbourne Theatre Company); Equus, The Torrents, Gary’s House, A Number, The Goat or Who Is Sylvia? (State Theatre Company of South Australia); Constance Drinkwater and the Final Days of Somerset (Queensland Theatre Company).
MELODIE REYNOLDS-DIARRA ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Melodie is a Wongutha woman from WA. She made her acting debut in 1990 at the age of 16 in the production No Sugar (Belvoir). Melodie graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) in 1996. She has performed in several ABC radio plays and the audio book My Place. Her television credits include Natural Justice, Broken Shore, Hard Rock Medical and Redfern Now 2. Her theatre credits include Wild Cat Falling, Honey Spot, King for this Place, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Actors At Work (Bell Shakespeare Company); Holy Day, Stolen, Shrunken Iris, Master Builder, Quilting the Armour, Yandy (Black Swan State Theatre Company); Headhunter, The Dirty Mile, Chopped Liver, Yibiyung (Belvoir); The Man from Mukinupin (Melbourne Theatre Company); Black Sheep, Glorious Bastards (Melbourne International Comedy Festival/Ilbijerri Theatre); Elfriede Jelinek’s Jackie and Coranderrk (Ilbijerri/Belvoir). The Shadow King is Melodie’s debut associate directing role.
JOHN RODGERS MUSIC DIRECTOR John Rodgers is an award-winning musician, improviser, composer, song writer, and creator of shows and events. He has recently completed the Life and Music concert series; the music for Mother Courage and her Children (Queensland Theatre Company); and the music for Big hArt's Hipbone Sticking Out (Canberra Centennial Festival). His many recent creative projects include Where the Heart Is with choreographer Natalie Wier, for which he received a Helpmann Award nomination. He has created works for many Australian festivals including Inferno; two shows in Mt Isa featuring dancing bobcats; The Mizler Society (Australian Art Orchestra); Moras (Sruthi Laya Quartet/Australian Art Orchestra); The Sunshine Club (Sydney Theatre Company); Carroling and Tulp: the body public
(Sydney Festival). With Erkki Veltheim he created two conceptual music theatre works Kill Music and Let Sounds Live and Kill Art and Let Feelings Live (Merival Street Theatre). He has also appeared and had works performed at numerous international events including the Vienna Festival, the Bogota Festival, the Heads Up Festival in London, and for Radio Bremen. He was the primary song writer for the cult band Madame Bones Brothel. He has written music for many theatre productions including A Cheery Soul (Adelaide Festival); Hamlet (Belvoir); The Marriage of Figaro (Lyric Theatre); It Just Stopped (Malthouse Theatre); and the 2009 Broadway production of Exit the King starring Geoffrey Rush. With Wesley Enoch he has worked on Radiance, Fountains Beyond and Elizabeth: Almost by chance a Woman (Queensland Theatre Company). He was musical director on Cabaret (Zen Zen Zo), and performed in Annie Lee's Dangling my Tootsies (Powerhouse). Amongst his current ventures are film project 8000 Balustrades; novel-derived music theatre piece Learning how to Breathe; Madame Carandini's Musical Curiosity Show; and The Black Arm Band collaboration with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra premiering in November 2013. John’s flamenco album The Uncaring Wind was released in 2011 along with the album Little Birung. The album Where the Heart is was released in 2012.
KELLY RYALL Sound Designer Kelly is a multi-award-winning composer, musician and sound designer for theatre, dance and film. He is recognised nationally for creating immersive and multi-layered musical landscapes for the stage and screen. He has worked for many of Australia’s major performing arts companies including Melbourne Theatre Company, Malthouse Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company, Perth Theatre Company, Belvoir and Griffin. He has received three Green Room Awards, the Melbourne International Festival Award and numerous nominations in Sydney and Melbourne. His recent work for
theatre includes Rupert, The Crucible (Melbourne Theatre Company); The Boys, Dreams in White (Griffin); Phedre, Henry 4, Macbeth, School for Wives (Bell Shakespeare); Dance of Death, On the Misconception of Oedipus (Malthouse Theatre); Flesh and Bone and Sundowner (KAGE).
JASON TAMIRU ASSOCIATE PRODUCER Jason is a proud Yorta Yorta man. In 2012 Jason produced Blak Cabaret for Malthouse Theatre and was the recipient of the VIPA Uncle Jack Charles Award. Jason founded and produced Deadly Funny for the Melbourne Comedy Festival. Jason won a National Indigenous Leadership Award through the British Council, performed in Coranderrk at the Sydney Opera House and was Associate Producer of the Inaugural Melbourne Indigenous Arts Festival. Jason is a member of the City of Melbourne IAAP Indigenous Arts Advisory Panel and a member of the Circus Oz Indigenous Advisory Panel.
NATASHA WANGANEEN PERFORMER After winning the 2004 Young Actor of the Year AFI Award for her role in Jessica, Natasha’s acting career has seen her perform around the world. Natasha’s stage credits include The Estimator (Queensland Theatre Company); the lead role in Holy Day and Troopers (Sydney Theatre Company); Wulamanayuwi and the Seven Pamanui (Darwin Festival); and Bullie’s House (Riverside Studios, London). Natasha is also a talented singer and dancer and has presented as a Master of Ceremonies for a variety of festivals and functions. Her short films for NITV include SHE SAY; she starred in Through My Eyes: The Lindy Chamberlain Story; and her feature film roles include RabbitProof Fence, Australian Rules and Black and White.
BART WILLOUGHBY MUSICIAN Bart formed Australia's first Indigenous rock band, No Fixed Address, while at the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music in 1978, the same year that he penned From My Eyes, a fusion of reggae music with traditional Indigenous influences. In 1982 the band toured Australia and Europe. Returning to Australia, Willoughby joined his cousin Bunna Lawrie in the newly-formed band Coloured Stone, and performed with the group on a Scottish tour in 1984 and 1985. Willoughby reformed No Fixed Address in 1987 and the band then toured Europe. In 1988 Willoughby joined Yothu Yindi as drummer, then in 1989 formed a new band, Mixed Relations, which toured through Aboriginal communities, Australia, the Pacific Islands, New Zealand and Hawaii. Bart went on to pursue a solo career, releasing the album Pathways and the double album Frequencies. In 2006 Bart was one of the Elder artists touring internationally as The Black Arm Band. In 2007 he formed The Bart Willoughby Band with producer and drummer Airi Ingram and long-time collaborator Selwyn Burns. Earlier this year they released their first album Proud. He is currently recording an album We Still Live On. Bart is a finalist in The Melbourne Music Prize, Outstanding Musician Award 2013, to be announced in November.
THANK YOU For their creative input and support throughout the process, Michael Kantor and Malthouse Theatre gratefully acknowledge the people and orginisations without whom this production would not have been possible: Rachael Maza and all at Ilbijerri, Brown's Mart, Bula’bula Arts Centre, Fleur Parry and all at Djilpin Arts Centre, Kyle Morrison, Anousha Zarkesh, Rolf de Heer, Nigel Jamieson, Josh Bond, Patrice Mazzone, Miranda Tapsell, Trevor Jamieson, Uncle Jack Charles, Lisa Maza, Isaac Drandic, Stephen “Baamba” Albert, Djamangi Gaykamangu, Silvia Kantor, Josephine Ridge, Michael Stevens, Maryanne Lynch, Stephen Armstrong, Nina Bonacci, Tia Clark, Gill Perkins, Catherine Jones, Evangeline Wilson and Jennifer Gulbransen. The original development of this work was supported by Bell Shakespeare.
LANGUAGES SPOKEN Yumpla Tok (Torres Strait Creole), Kala Lagaw Ya (Torres Strait Creole), Gupapuyngu (Yolngu), Katherine Kriol, Baard
Music We Have Survived Bart Willoughby Seeds That You Might Sow Pigram/Manolis/Chi/Gower/Bin Everybody Looking for Kuckle Pigram/Manolis/Chi/Gower/Bin Other works created by The Shadow King company
CULTURAL STATEMENT Cultural protocols have been followed throughout the production of The Shadow King. Authorisation of cultural objects and permission of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander story, language and song has come from the cast of The Shadow King. The Shadow King cast and crew thank their Elders for guiding and advising correct public displaying of their culture and identity in The Shadow King.
MUSE DONOR PROGRAM Thank you, Malthouse Muses, for supporting our artistic vision and helping us to create a unique and dynamic environment for artists and audiences. URANIA—Muse of The Stars—$25,000+ Annamila Pty Ltd, The Dara Foundation, The Danielle and Daniel Besen Foundation, Maureen & Tony Wheeler CLIO—Muse of History—$10,000+ Betty Amsden OAM, John & Lorraine Bates, Michele Levine, Craig Reeves, The Pratt Foundation, Anonymous (1) THALIA—Muse of Comedy—$5,000+ Frankie Airey & Stephen Solly, Eva Besen AO & Marc Besen AO, Debbie Dadon, Roger Donazzan & Margaret Jackson AC, Neilma Gantner, Colin Golvan SC, Richard Leonard & Gerlinde Scholz, Mary Ruth & Peter McLennan, Judith Maitland-Parr, Elisabeth & John Schiller, Carol & Alan Schwartz AM, Anonymous (2) MELPOMENE—Muse of Tragedy—$2,500+ Chryssa Anagnostou & Jim Tsaltas, Rosemary Forbes & Ian Hocking, Val Johnstone, Janine Tai, Tom Wright EUTERPE—Muse of Music—$1,000+ Ingrid Ashford, John & Sally Bourne, Beth Brown & Tom Bruce AM, Sally Browne, Diana Burleigh, Ingrid & Per Carlsen, Marilyn and Andrew Cookes, Sieglind D’Arcy, Georgina Damm, Dominic & Natalie Dirupo, Rev Fr Michael Elligate, William J. Forrest AM, John & Helen Gibbins, D.L & G.S Gjergja, Marco Gjergja, Michael Kingston, Sue Kirkham, Pamela McLure, Naomi Milgrom AO, Jenny Schwarz, Maria Sola & Malcolm Douglas, Gina & Paul Stuart, Leonard Vary & Matt Collins, Jason Waple, Jon Webster, Jenny Werbeloff, Anonymous (3) TERPSICHORE—Muse of Dance—$500+ Sandra Beanham, Min Li Chong, Mark & Jo Davey, Taleen Gaidzkar, Charles Gillies & Penelope Allen, Carolyn Floyd, Brian Goddard, Leonie Hollingworth, Brad Hooper, Susan Humphries, Irine Irvine, Irene Kearsey, Ann Kemeny & Graham Johnson, K & J Lindsay, Sir Gustav AC CBE & Lady Nossal, Tony Oliver, Robert Peters, Right Lane Consulting, Tim & Lynne Sherwood, Fiona Sweet & Paul Newcombe, Katherine Sampson, John Thomas, Kerri Turner & Andrew White, Richard P. Watson, Phil & Heather Wilson, Henry Winters, Angelika & Pete Zangmeister, Anonymous (2) ERATO—Muse of Love—$250+ Simon Abrahams, Stephen & Diane Alley, Graham & Anita Anderson, John & Alexandra Busselmaier, John Carruthers, Ros Casey, Tim & Rachel Cecil, Diane Clark, Chris Clough, Patricia Coutts, Mary Crean AM, Tania de Jong AM, Orla & Rachel, Paula Hansky OAM & Jack Hansky AM, Peggy Hayton, Scott Herron, Roberta Holmes, Vas Katos, Patricia Keith, Ruth Krawat, Liquorice Studio, Kim Lowndes, William Lye, Brad Martin, Gael & Ian McRae, John Millard, Dr Kersti Nogeste, Linda Notley, Wendy Poulton, John & Margot Rogers, Rae Rothfield, Ernie Schwartz, Morry & Anna Schwartz, Jill Sewell, Lisl Singer, Neil & Barbara Smart, Thea & Hayden Snow, Janice Taylor, Rosemary Walls, Jan Watson, Joanne Whyte, Dr Roger Woock & Fiona Clyne, Barbara Yuncken, Anonymous (7) CATALYST SYNDICATE Warwick & Lida Bray, John Carruthers & Rosie Purcell, Charles Gillies & Penelope Allen, Nick Glenning & Jenny Proimos, Sarah Morgan, Corrie Perkin & Peter Loder, Maria Prendergast OAM, Bob Sessions & Christina Fitzgerald, Simon Westcott & Dr Ben Keith You too can make a difference on our stages and behind the scenes. Please call 9685 5162 or visit our website and inspire us with your donation.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS Simon Westcott (Chair), John Daley (Deputy Chair), Frankie Airey, Michele Levine, Ian McRae, Sarah Morgan, Thea Snow, Sigrid Thornton, Kerri Turner, Leonard Vary Artistic Director Marion Potts Executive Producer Jo Porter Associate Artist (Design) Paul Jackson Associate Artist (Direction) Matthew Lutton Associate Artist (Writing) Van Badham Company Manager Lucy Birkinshaw Associate Producer Josh Wright Administrator Narda Shanley Finance Manager Mario Agostinoni Finance Administrator Liz White Finance Assistant Connie Stella Marketing & Communications Manager Lisa Scicluna Media Manager Maria O’Dwyer Digital Strategy & Marketing Coordinator Chloe Gordon Communications Coordinator Emily Fiori Graphic Designer Rick Milovanovic Development Manager Jaclyn Birtchnell Philanthropy Manager Nicole Punte Development Assistant Hiroki Kobayashi Ticketing Manager Emma Howard Ticketing Assistant Lauren White Youth & Education Program Clare Watson Executive Assistant Sarah Wong Audience Development Consultant Jason Tamiru Building Manager Peter Mandersloot Bar Manager Cherry Rivers Front of House Managers Tristan Watson & Sean Ladhams
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Production Manager David Miller Technical Manager Baird McKenna Operations Manager Dexter Varley Head Electrician Stewart Birkinshaw Campbell Head Mechanist Andy Moore Theatre Technician Nathaneal Bristow Head of Wardrobe Amanda Carr Wardrobe Assistant Chloe Greaves Workshop Supervisor David Craig Steel Fabricator Goffredo Mameli Workshop Staff Mitch O'Sullivan Scenic Artist Patrick Jones Props Master Ross Murray (lifetime recognition) Front of House/Bar Staff Leeor Adar, Matt Adair, Jacqui Brown, Ben Carollo, Kathryn Delaney, Alice Dixon, Graham Downey, Tanja George, Christian Grant, Kate Gregory, Kathryn Joy, Bridie McCarthy, Ian Michael, Daniel Newell, Ruby Nolan, Syrie Payne, Claire Richardson, Sanne Rodenstein, Phoebe Taylor, Jade Thomson, Lee Threadgold Box Office Staff Abbey Barnes, Paul Buckley, Mark Byrne, Kathryn Delaney, Kate Gregory, Suzie Hardgrave, Michelle Hines, Ian Michael, Fiona Wiseman, Liz White Malthouse Theatre would like to acknowledge the people of the Kulin nation on whose land this work is being presented. Malthouse Theatre would also like to acknowledge the ongoing support of its volunteers.
OUR PARTNERS GOVERNMENT PARTNERS Malthouse Theatre is supported by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body
EDUCATION PARTNER
MEDIA PARTNER
PRODUCTION PARTNER
CORPORATE PARTNERS
CORPORATE ASSOCIATES
COMPANY SUPPORTERS
TRUSTS AND FOUNDATIONS Australian Communities Foundation Slome-Topol Family Charitable Trust
The Robert Salzer Foundation Vera Moore Foundation
PROGRAM PARTNERS THE Suitcase Series
REGIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM
ARTIST PROGRAM
Female Director in Residence PROGRAM
REGIONAL PERFORMANCE PROJECTS
NEW AUSTRALIAN COMMISSION & PRODUCTION
The Danielle & Daniel Besen Foundation DIRECTORS EXCHANGE PROJECT COMPANY IN RESIDENCE (Men of Steel) Maureen and Tony Wheeler International Program Jeanne Pratt AC, Rae Rothfield, Sue Nattrass AO, Judith Maitland-Parr THE KENN BRODZIAK ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
Tom Kantor Fund INDIGENOUS THEATRE PROGRAM (The Shadow King)
Photography: Pia Sean Johnson Young