ILBIJERRI Theatre Company’s
Heart is a Wasteland
By John Harvey (Saibai Island)
Director Dr Rachael Maza AM (Yidinji/Meriam)
Presented by THE TWYFORD at the BVCCC
Thursday 4 August at 7.00pm
Friday 5 August at 1.00pm (matinee / schools)
Friday 5 August at 7.00pm
PERFORMERS Monica Jasmine Karo (Gunai/Gunditjmara), Ari Maza Long (Yidinji/Meriam), Gary Watling (Wiradjuri)
Photo by Aaron Walker
Thursday 4 August at 7.00pm
Friday 5 August at 1.00pm (matinee / schools)
Friday 5 August at 7.00pm
75 minutes, no interval
Warning: Strong language, sexual references, suitable for ages 15+
Show contains some strobing blue light effects
Djiringanj Elder Aunty Glenda Dixon welcomed the cast & crew and audiences at the first show. A music workshop was held on 4 August 2022 at Eden Marine High School for First Nations students with musicians Gary Watling & Monica Jasmine Karo.
Heart is a Wasteland combines First Nations storytelling in a live music love story, set on the road through Australia’s heartland.
Raye, a country-music star in the making, plays pub-to-pub along Australia’s vast desert highways, trying to make a living in the hope of returning home to her son, Elvis. But when she meets Dan, another young wanderer at the crossroads of life, a love affair unfurls over a four-day drive to Alice Springs.
Following a sell-out premiere season at Darwin Festival 2021, ILBIJERRI Theatre Company’s Heart is a Wasteland – directed by the company’s multi award-winning Artistic Director Dr Rachael Maza AM – brings John Harvey’s humorous and deeply heartfelt script to life.
Writer John Harvey
With original music by Lydia Fairhall, exquisitely arranged by Gary Watling; beautiful audio-visual design – this production brings Australia’s stunning outback right to the front – matched by the vitality of its new young leads.
Heart is a Wasteland exposes a soul-warming battle of egos, recognising everyone’s individual right to love.
Media response from Malthouse Theatre’s production of the script in 2017:
**** ‘impressive…delivers a strong, affecting narrative, powered in part by the freedom that flows from Indigenous voices telling Indigenous stories.’ – The Age
‘…enjoyable, heart-warming theatre…a testament to the healing power of love’ – Stage Whispers
**** ‘…moving, enlightening and utterly refreshing.’ – Theatre People
ILBIJERRI is Australia’s longest-running First Nations theatre company, 30 years strong in 2021. They create, present and tour challenging and provocative theatrical works that describe the experiences of First Nations people in Australia today with empathy and honesty.
Written by John Harvey. A RISING Co-presentation. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body, and by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria.
Performances in Bega are co-presented by The Twyford and supported by the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand Fund (RISE) – an Australian Government initiative.
