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Namatjira

By Scott Rankin
Co-Directors Scott Rankin & Wayne Blair

  • Venue Upstairs Theatre
  • Dates 25 Sept – 7 Nov 2010

    Winner of two 2010 Sydney Theatre Awards
    Best New Australian Work 
    (Scott Rankin)
    Best Newcomer (Derek Lynch)

    Elea was born in the desert in Arrernte country, Central Australia, in 1902. Two years later he was baptised Albert. Thirty one years after that, at his first solo exhibition of watercolour landscapes, he signed his work with his father’s surname for the first time: Albert Namatjira.

    Half a century after his death, Belvoir and Big hART have invited some of his descendants – third generation watercolour artists – to spend six weeks filling the Belvoir St corner with a huge drawing of Namatjira’s country. Each night as they draw, the charismatic Trevor Jamieson will retell Namatjira’s extraordinary life.

    At the height of his fame, Albert Namatjira’s shows sold out within minutes. If you didn’t own one of his paintings you probably had a print in your loungeroom. He also supported over six hundred members of his community, lost two of his ten children to malnutrition, was forbidden to own land, imprisoned for having a drink with his friends, and died a broken man.

    Trevor of the creative forces behind Ngapartji Ngapartji in 2008. They’ve teamed up with our own powerhouse Wayne Blair to create this whole-hearted tribute to a great Australian artist and a great Aranda man.

    Team

    By Scott Rankin
    Co-Directors Scott Rankin & Wayne Blair
    Set Designer Genevieve Dugard
    Costume Designer Tess Schofield
    Lighting Designer Nigel Levings
    Composer & Music Director Genevieve Lacey
    Sound Designer Jim Atkins
    Creative Producer Sophia Marinos
    Associate Producer Clare Atkins
    Community Producers Sia Cox & Pru Gell
    Assistant Lighting Designer Christopher Page
    Sound Operator Nick Shipway
    Stage Manager Luke McGettigan
    Assistant Stage Manager Jessica Smithett

    Cast

    Nicole Forsyth
    Robert Hannaford
    Trevor Jamieson
    Genevieve Lacey
    Derek Lynch
    Kevin Namatjira
    Evert Ploeg
    Elton Wirri

    Videos

    Production images by Brett Boardman

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