Scar Trees

ILBIJERRI’s Scar Trees speaks to the complex layers, but too often common experiences of family violence and the impact it has on our community and specifically our children and their relentless resilience, undying hope and ultimately their need to give and receive unconditional love. This engaging theatre performance follows a family on the way to a funeral. A unique and engaging professional development opportunity that allows audiences to experience the power of theatre and storytelling through captivating characters.

ABOUT THE SHOW

Garren’s on his BMX. The shit one. He knows all about what it can do, and its limits. He knows the tracks he doesn’t want to go down. Fightin' an that. He knows there’s other ways. There’s gotta be other ways. Uncle Laurie does his wood carving and runs a men’s group. He’s been off the grog for a while now. They’re all trying to get to Uncle Pat’s funeral. But when they get there, what stories will be told, and what will be left unspoken?

ABOUT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The 2024 tour was intended for health and community workers who work in First Peoples communities to build understanding and dialogue around First Peoples experiences. Scar Trees unpacks transgenerational trauma and the manifestation of family violence in First Peoples Communities due to the ongoing effects of colonisation.

After the show, audiences were invited to engage in a yarning circle to reflect, share and connect with others working within the community and a panel discussion with leaders in the family violence sector.

PLEASE NOTE: This production deals with heavy themes that relate to experiences with out of home care, family violence, alcohol and other drugs, and the impacts of colonisation.  It contains coarse language.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Improved cultural understanding 
- Insight into lived experience and the ongoing impacts of colonisation
- Opportunity to debrief the content and learnings after the show

Thank you to all the deadly young people who contributed to the development of Scar Trees through sharing their stories and experiences.

ILBIJERRI Theatre Company’s Scar Trees is supported by City of Yarra, Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA), The Victorian Government through Creative Victoria and VicHealth.  

Photo: Jacinta Keefe