Based on the success of this delightful piece of theatre, playwright Jason De Santis (also the Creative Director of the inaugural Milimika Festival on Bathurst Island this September) is an emerging talent to be watched. Raised in Darwin and regularly returning home to his cultural roots on Milikapiti in the Tiwi Islands, De Santis draws on the stories of his childhood, told to him by his Tiwi Islander Nanna and his Italian immigrant Poppy, to weave this European fairytale meets Dreamtime song-line.
Goosebump raising. Intricate. Articulate. Clever. Fun. Emotional. Wulamanayuwi is a contemporary Brothers Grimm treasure.
Based around the traditional Western fairytale, ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’, Walamanayuwi and the Seven Pamanui is produced for a young audience, and originally debuted at Come Out Festival in March 2011, though it was commissioned and produced by Darwin Festival.
As part of transforming the script into a live production, the cast travelled to Milikapiti and worked with local Tiwi elder Mary Elizabeth Moreen, learning traditional Tiwi language and song while members of the community young and old sat in on rehearsals.
Wulamanayuwi also a unique collaboration between Jilamara Arts Centre and prominent artists Pedro Wonaeamirri, John Peter Pilakui, Linus Warlapinni and Raelene Kerinauia, who worked with the design team to create the puppets and set. Students from Milikapiti Primary School drew and painted the animals used in the show and Darwin Patchworkers and Quilters created the beautiful velvet curtains.
The fast paced and visually layered story covers numerous issues, cultural, social and mythical. Narrated by Jarparra, the Moon Man, it tells the tale of a young woman’s responsibility to her family, promised marriage, spirits, evil, love, reincarnation and grief. De Santis and director Eamon Flack use a delightful swag of mixed media to bring their characters and stories to life; puppets, projection, lighting, pantomime, song – even drag. Mostly performed in English, the play also incorporates Tiwi language, song and dance.
The breadth of issues covered, the concept of evil and spirits, the fast pace and bilingual content has the potential to make this play too complex for a young audience, and Natasha Wanganeen’s portrayal of Jirrakilala, the evil step-mother was ferocious as she eyeballed the front row and left them quaking in their sandals. That said, the complexity, the layers and the skilled acting is what makes this piece a delight for an older audience.
Wulamanayuwi and the Seven Pamanui has been the talk of this year’s Darwin Festival, with most people who saw it citing the production as the crowning jewel of the 2011 program. I have to agree. This piece has so much potential and it would be lovely for it to reach a broader audience.
Rating: Four stars
Wulamanayuwi and the Seven Pamanui
Written by Jason De Santis
Directed by Eamon Flack
Set Design by Bryan Woltjen
Puppetry Direction by Sam Routledge
Lighting Design by Richard Vabre
Browns Mart Theatre, Darwin
August 18 – 21
Darwin Festival
August 11 – 28
www.darwinfestival.org.au
