We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Elders, Ancestors and leaders of the Kulin Nations on whose unceded lands ILBIJERRI Theatre Company is based.
We extend this respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, recognising their resilience and ongoing connection to land, water and culture, despite ongoing colonial interruption and genocide.
Always was, always will be, sacred Indigenous land.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples should be advised that this website may contain images of deceased persons.
Coranderrk
A co-production by ILBIJERRI Theatre Company & Belvoir
“What ILBIJERRI is able to take from this painful history is a story of resistance and of strength. ★★★★” - The Age
CORANDERRK is about what might have been.
In the neglected storehouse of Australian history, this is one of the definitive stories. At a Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry in 1881, the men and women of the Coranderrk Aboriginal Reserve went head-to-head with the Aboriginal Protection Board. Their goal was both simple and revolutionary: to be allowed to continue the brilliant experiment in self-determination they had pioneered for themselves on the scrap of country left to them.
CORANDERRK recreates the Inquiry. This is both great theatre and great history. It revives the voices of all those, black and white, who fought for a better compact between the country’s oldest and newest inhabitants – three dozen of them from 132 years ago, speaking for themselves, directly to us, as though the question at hand remains unanswered today.
Supported by the Australia Council for the Arts, Creative Victoria and Arts & Culture Maribyrnong.
Reviews
“What ILBIJERRI is able to take from this painful history is a story of resistance and of strength. ★★★★” - The Age
“This superb performance is a painful reminder of ‘what could have been’ in terms of Aboriginal self-determination” – ArtsHub
“It is honest, open, raw, emotional, poignant; true. There is a strong spirit in Coranderrk. And to sit in a crowded darkened theatre and witness it, is a truly humbling experience.” - The Spell of Waking Hours Blog
“…placing the language of colonial racists into the mouths of black actors has an undeniably powerful effect” – Sydney Morning Herald
“…had Coranderrk been allowed to continue it might well have become a blueprint for collaborative, cooperative, white-black community enterprise” – Crikey
Sound Designer Ben Grant
Performer Greg Fryer
Production History
18 April – 18 July 2017 | NATIONAL TOUR
Victoria
18 April 2017 – The National Theatre, Melbourne
20 April 2017 – Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat
21 to 22 April 2017 – Whitehorse Performing Arts Centre, Nunawading
27 April 2017 – The Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool
29 April 2017 – Horsham Town Hall, Horsham
2 May 2017 – Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo
4 May 2017 – The Cube, Wodonga
6 May 2017 – Riverlinks, Eastbank Centre, Shepparton
9 May 2017 – ESSO BHP Billiton Wellington Entertainment Centre, Sale
11 May 2017 – Latrobe Performing Arts Centre, Traralgon
13 May 2017 – Plenty Ranges Arts & Convention Centre, South Morang
16 May 2017 – Cardinia Cultural Centre, Pakenham
18 May 2017 – Altona Theatre
20 May 2017 – Frankston Arts Centre
23 May 2017 – Drama Theatre, Monash University Academy of Performing Arts, Clayton
24 May 2017 – Clocktower Centre, Moonee Ponds
26 to 27 May 2017 – Footscray Community Arts Centre
30 May 2017 – Kyneton Town Hall
1 to 3 June 2017 – Geelong Performing Arts Centre
Australian Capital Territory
14 to 15 June 2017 – Canberra Theatre Centre
New South Wales
17 June 2017 – Orange Civic Theatre
20 June 2017 – Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre
22 June 2017 – Cessnock Performing Arts Centre
24 June 2017 – The Art House, Wyong
28 June 2017 – Riverside, Parramatta
30 June to 1 July 2017 – Northern River Performing Arts, Lismore
Queensland
5 July 2017 – Empire Theatre, Toowoomba
Northern Territory
7 July 2017 – Darwin Entertainment Centre
12 May 2015 Showcase Victoria
14 to 23 August 2014 - Northcote Town Hall
7 December 2013 to 3 January 2014 - Upstairs Theatre, Belvoir Street Theatre
2017 National Tour Dates & Venues
Victoria
18 April 2017 - The National Theatre, Melbourne
20 April 2017 - Her Majesty's Theatre, Ballarat
21 to 22 April 2017 - Whitehorse Performing Arts Centre, Nunawading
27 April 2017 - The Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool
29 April 2017 - Horsham Town Hall, Horsham
2 May 2017 - Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo
4 May 2017 - The Cube, Wodonga
6 May 2017 - Riverlinks, Eastbank Centre, Shepparton
9 May 2017 - ESSO BHP Billiton Wellington Entertainment Centre, Sale
11 May 2017 - Latrobe Performing Arts Centre, Traralgon
13 May 2017 - Plenty Ranges Arts & Convention Centre, South Morang
16 May 2017 - Cardinia Cultural Centre, Pakenham
18 May 2017 - Altona Theatre
20 May 2017 - Frankston Arts Centre
23 May 2017 - Drama Theatre, Monash University Academy of Performing Arts, Clayton
24 May 2017 - Clocktower Centre, Moonee Ponds
26 to 27 May 2017 - Footscray Community Arts Centre
30 May 2017 - Kyneton Town Hall
1 to 3 June 2017 - Geelong Performing Arts Centre
Australian Capital Territory
14 to 15 June 2017 - Canberra Theatre Centre
New South Wales
17 June 2017 - Orange Civic Theatre Book
20 June 2017 - Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre
22 June 2017 - Cessnock Performing Arts Centre
24 June 2017 - The Art House, Wyong
28 June 2017 - Riverside, Parramatta
30 June to 1 July 2017 - Northern River Performing Arts, Lismore
Queensland
5 July 2017 - Empire Theatre, Toowoomba
Northern Territory
7 July 2017 - Darwin Entertainment Centre
Teachers Resources
This resource has been created by ILBIJERRI Theatre Company with Curriculum Links and Year 9 and 10 material created by Meg Upton.
This resource aims to provide teachers with curriculum links to the Victorian Curriculum, and includes some preliminary and post show ideas and activities as to how to extend their experience of CORANDERRK.
Click here to download the CORANDERRK Teachers Resources 2017
Credits
Director Eva Grace Mullaley
Performers Trevor Jamieson, Mathew Cooper, Ebony McGuire & Jesse Butler
Writers Andrea James & Giordano Nanni
Sound Designer James Henry
Original Sound Design Ben Grant
Audio Visual Designer Keith Deverell
Original AV Design Peter Worland
Set Designers Brynna Lowen & Tegan Evans
Original Set Design Ruby Langton-Batty & Ralph Myers
Lighting Designer Tegan Evans
Costume Designer Brynna Lowen
Production Manager Sarah Wong
Stage Manager Brock Brocklesby
