Ngapartji Ngapartji, written by Scott Rankin and co-creator Trevor Jamieson. Director, Scott Rankin for Big hART. Musical director, Damian Mason. Sydney Festival and Company B at Belvoir Street Theatre on Tuesdays 6.30pm, Wednesdays – Saturdays 8pm, Sundays 5pm, January 11 to February 10. Bookings: Company B 02 9699 3444 or www.sydneyfestival.org.au
“A very, very powerful, graceful, moving work” is how Federal Minister for the Arts, Peter Garrett, described to me this family history of Spinifex man Trevor Jamieson. I and the rest of the audience on opening night could not have agreed more. A standing ovation said everything about the quality of the performance and the tears said “Sorry” as it should have been said many years ago. The Pitjantjatjara people deserve a great deal more than an apology for the devastation Australian governments have caused.
The title means “I give you something, you give me something”. The Jamieson story shows that Aboriginal people have been giving time and time again, since the first British horsemen arrived in their country, with no by-your-leave. Next were Afghans and camels, the effects of two world wars, and worst of all the explosion of 9 major nuclear bombs and many smaller bomb trials from 1953 to 1965 which killed and irradiated very many Pitjantjatjara and other central Australian people. Jamieson’s parents were orphans, literally refugees from their own country.
But still they keep giving, through the Big hART program which you can participate in at www.ninti.ngapartji.org and in the resilience they demonstrate to all of us in this production. Whatever traumas we or our forebears have faced and survived, these people have faced at least as much and still perform with strength and hope.
Their narrative is told in song, dance and storytelling in a form that reminded me of ancient Greek theatre. The senior women who lead the audience in song and action, who sing such strong harmony, and bring calm and acceptance in times of trouble, are a baseline of security in the play, just as they are in real life. They, especially, make us feel respect for country and culture. With new Ministers in a new Government, let us hope that this “powerful, graceful, moving work” helps to persuade people with the power to have the grace to move Australia to give in return in full measure.
Being at Ngapartji Ngapartji is an experience which you should not miss.
©Frank McKone, Canberra
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