Kampnagel sommerfestival logo anschnitt 4c
Dancer jump into the air on dark stage with chandeliers
© Dajana Lothert
Dancer jump into the air on dark stage with chandeliers
© Dajana Lothert

Marrugeku

Jurrungu Ngan-Ga

A highly political, explosive and energetic dance-theatre work from one of Australia’s most renowned dance companies dedicated to indigenous and non-indigenous exchange.

Tickets:

44 / 36 / 24 / 14 Euro (conc. from 9 Euro, 50% conc. with Festivalkarte)

Past dates

Archive

Wednesday

8/17/22

8:30 PM

Archive

Thursday

8/18/22

8:30 PM

Archive

Friday

8/19/22

8:30 PM

Archive

Saturday

8/20/22

8:30 PM

Throbbing with sadness, anger, joy and resistance, Marrugeku presents a powerful and provocative new work of dance, sound and installation that interrogates a policy of human rights violations. The piece confronts Australia’s shameful fixation with incarceration by connecting outrageous levels of Indigenous prisoners to the indefinite detaining of asylum seekers. Set within »the prison of the mind of Australia« JURRUNGU NGAN-GA (Yawuru for »straight talk«) was partially inspired by »No Friend but the Mountains«, a factual account of incarceration and exile by Kurdish-Iranian writer Behrouz Boochani in collaboration with and translated by Iranian-Australian scholar-activist Omid Tofighian. The book won Australia’s most prestigious literary award. Devised by an outstanding cast who draw on their intersecting yet distinct cultural and communityinformed experiences the work is facilitated through Marrugeku’s hallmark intercultural dance process led by choreographer Dalisa Pigram and director Rachael Swain. Together, they deliver a work of impressive power in which searing truths blend with dark humour, fear, sadness and courage to shine a light on new ways to resist and abolish.

Eight dancers in front of a pale purple illuminated background move in a kind of grape on different spatial levels, some squatting, some with their arms stretched far upwards.
© Prudence Upton
A black dancer with a bald head and a short full beard stands on a pedestal, looks up and makes an exalted hand movement reminiscent of an opera singer. Some dancers stand in a circle around him and look up at him.
© Prudence Upton
Eight dancers position themselves in a large semicircle, their legs are slightly bent and they stretch their right arm into the center of the circle. The stage space is lit in pale green, nine chandeliers hang from the ceiling.
© Prudence Upton
A dancer in a blue pantsuit and bright red collar has sunk half to her knees and is looking up, her mouth wide open in a scream. She has straight, dark hair braided into two long braids at the sides.
© Prudence Upton
The eight dancers move for the most part near the floor in a semicircle to the front and look grimly, one dancer in the foreground forms a kind of bridge, one arm propped up behind his head.
© Prudence Upton
Nine dancers, some partially covered, stand together in a kind of grape, their gaze directed forward. Their faces show different emotions such as anger, surprise and joy, in part beads of sweat shine on their foreheads.
© Prudence Upton
An indigenous dancer in blue pants and loose pink top bends his knees slightly with his legs spread, his arms stretched wide at his sides, his mouth slightly open.
© Prudence Upton
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With: Marrugeku

Concept: Dalisa Pigram and Rachael Swain with Patrick Dodson Choreography: Dalisa Pigram with the performers Direction: Rachael Swain Dramaturgy: Hildegard de Vuyst Cultural Dramaturgy: Behrouz Boochani, Patrick Dodson, Omid Tofighian Music: Sam Serruys, Paul Charlier and Rhyan Clapham aka DOBBY 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 Co-Devising Performers: Czack (Ses) Bero, Emmanuel James Brown, Chandler Connell, Luke Currie-Richardson, Issa el Assaad, Zachary Lopez (past), Macon Riley (current), Bhenji Ra, Feras Shaheen, Miranda Wheen Production Manager & Lighting Operator: Aiden Brennan Audio Technician: Raine Paul Company Manager: Denise Wilson Producer & Tour Manager: Natalie Smith

COPRODUCTION Kampnagel International Summer Festival and Körber-Stiftung, Carriageworks, City of Melbourne through Arts House

SUPPORTED BY the Australian Government through the Australia Council, the Government of Western Australia through the Department of Local Government Sport and Cultural Industries, Create NSW, the Australian Government through the Indigenous Language and Arts Program, the Nelson Meers Foundation, and by Kampnagel International Summer Festival as part of „EXIL HEUTE – künstlerische Produktionsresidenzen“ by Kampnagel and Körber-Stiftung