Jurrungu Ngan-ga [Straight Talk]

Brimming over with sadness, anger, joy and steely resistance, Jurrungu Ngan-ga is a deeply affecting and urgent work by one of our nation's most innovative dance theatre companies that confronts Australia's shameful fixation with incarceration.

This breathtaking new work connects the shockingly disproportionate levels of Indigenous Australians in custody and the indefinite detention of asylum seekers in Australia’s immigration detention centres.

★★★★1/2 Astonishing
Sydney Morning Herald

Jurrungu Ngan-ga, translated from Yawuru as 'straight talk', takes inspiration from the words and experiences of Yawuru leader Patrick Dodson, Kurdish-Iranian writer and former Manus Island detainee Behrouz Boochani, and Iranian-Australian scholar-activist Omid Tofighian.

Blending movement, music, soundscape, spoken word and projection, Marrugeku’s unique intercultural work reflects the impact of government-sanctioned brutality. The company’s exceptionally talented dancers evoke dark aspects of the Australian psyche, drawing on cultural and community experience to move deftly between horrific surrealism, truth-telling and stunning physicality.

With dark humour and courage, Jurrungu Ngan-ga interrogates our capacity to lock away that which we fear and shines a light on new ways to resist.

The Sat 11 Mar, 2pm performance will be followed by a free Q&A.

Credits

CREATIVE AND CULTURAL TEAM

Concept Dalisa Pigram and Rachael Swain with Patrick Dodson
Choreography Dalisa Pigram with the performers
Direction Rachael Swain
Performance Dramaturgy Hildegard de Vuyst
Cultural Dramaturgy Behrouz Boochani, Patrick Dodson, Omid Tofighian
Music Sam Serruys, Paul Charlier and Rhyan Clapham (aka DOBBY)
Lyrics Beni 'Bjah' Hasler
Sound Design Sam Serruys and Paul Charlier
Scenic Design Abdul-Rahman Abdullah
Costume Design Andrew Treloar
Lighting Design Damien Cooper
Additional Choreography Krump Army: Stacy Peke aka Red Ladybrui5er
Additional Music Far from Home - Farhad Bandesh and Anna Liebzeit (composition), Farhad Bandesh (recorded vocals sung in Kurdish), The Ha Dub Rewerk’d MikeQ (composer and performer), Jalangurru Wiyi Emmanuel James Brown (live vocals sung in Bunuba)
Additional Instrumental Recordings Natasha Rumiz (viola)

CAST

Co-devising Performers Czack (Ses) Bero, Emmanuel James Brown, Chandler Connell, Luke Currie-Richardson, Issa el Assaad, Zachary Lopez (previous), Macon Escobal Riley (present), Bhenji Ra, Feras Shaheen, Miranda Wheen

Production

Production Manager & Lighting Operator Aiden Brennan
Audio Technician Raine Paul
Company Manager Denise Wilson
Producer and Tour Manager Natalie Smith

Images Prudence Upton

Additional Info

Commissioning partners

Jurrungu Ngan-ga [Straight Talk] was commissioned by Carriageworks, International Summer Festival Kampnagel, Hamburg with Körber-Stiftung and the City of Melbourne through Arts House.

Funding Partners

Marrugeku is funded by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body, the Government of Western Australian through the Department of Local Government Sport and Cultural Industries/Lotterywest, Create NSW, the Australian Government through the Indigenous Language and Arts Program, the Nelson Meers Foundation, International Summer Festival Kampnagel, Hamburg and the Seaborn, Broughton & Walford Foundation.

Partners

Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries

Australian Government Indigenous Languages and Arts

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Schools tickets are available, including subsidised tickets for Category 1 - 4 schools.

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WHEN

Fri 10 Mar, 7:30pm
Sat 11 Mar, 2:00pm, 7:30pm
Sun 12 Mar, 5:00pm

A free post-show Q&A will be held after the Sat 11 Mar, 2pm performance.

WHERE

Dunstan Playhouse
Adelaide Festival Centre

TICKETS

Adult
A Reserve $69, B Reserve $59
Friends
A Reserve $59, B Reserve $50
Concession (Pensioner, Health Care Card holder, MEAA member)
A Reserve $55, B Reserve $47
Under 30 (ID required)
A Reserve $35, B Reserve $30
Full time student (ID required)
A Reserve $30, B Reserve $25

Transaction fees apply.

DURATION

1hr 20mins, no interval

NOTE

Tickets available through Ticketek online or on 131 246.

Friends tickets available through Adelaide Festival online or on 1300 393 404.

digital show program

WARNINGS

Contains low-level strobe lighting, partial nudity, references to self-harm and depictions of violence, racial abuse and police/border security brutality. This performance contains the names of people who have passed away. Recommended for audiences 15+

ACCESS

Wheelchair accessible
Please call Ticketek's Accessible Seating booking line on 1300 665 915.
Fully surtitled or minimal dialogue

Youth & Education

Schools tickets are available, including subsidised tickets for Category 1 - 4 schools.

Find out more

Jurrungu Ngan-ga [Straight Talk]

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