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.
In 2004 Tony Briggs initiated a relationship between ILBIJERRI and Melbourne International Comedy Festival to develop comedy skills for Indigenous writers and performers. We figured we’ve aired a lot of important sad stories, and while it’s imperative to keep telling them – can’t we also have a bit of fun?
So we put five blakfellas who’d never done stand up or comedy before in a room with Comedian/Joke Doctor Russell Fletcher (Spontaneous Broadway, Twelve Angry Men, The Adventures of Lano and Woodley), and NATIVES GETTING FUNNY is what stumbled out four months later. Each of the short stand-up monologues shares a sometimes silly, sometimes sardonic, but always insightful slice of blak humour.
PRODUCTION HISTORY
26 March to 16 April 2005 - Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Melbourne Town Hall
Performers Tammy Anderson, Lionel Austin, Lisa Bellear, Lou Bennett & Dennis Fisher (Den the Fish)
DirectorKylie Belling
Joke Doctor Russell Fletcher
Production & Stage Manager PJ Rosas