Jasmin Sheppard and Thomas Greenfield. Image supplied by Bangarra Dance Theatre.
In a wonderful celebration of Bangarra Dance Theatre’s twenty-fifth anniversary, Patyegarang is an aural and visual treat. This work, the first of Bangarra’s to be set in Sydney itself, tells the almost forgotten story of a young Eora woman, Patyegarang, who shares her culture and language with one of the first settlers.
When the colonial fleet arrives on Eora country in the late eighteenth century, Patyegarang becomes friends with Lieutenant William Dawes, the colony’s timekeeper and astronomer.This exchange of language and culture constitutes an extraordinary display of friendship and trust which today inspires some of our ideas about ‘first contact’. Dawe’s notebooks (rediscovered in 1972 , now held in a London library and available online) are fascinating transcripts of this extraordinary cultural exchange. Mysterious, elusive Patyegarang herself is revealed as a strong woman and a striking visionary and educator.
The work is not a straight, literal narrative as such; instead it’s an almost cinematic series of events, some concrete (‘learning‘, ‘conflict’) and some abstract (‘belonging’, ‘invasion’) all of which include narrative fragments.
Stephen Page’s choreography has strong fluid lines, combining traditional and contemporary Indigenous dance. At times it is circular, at others slithery, and there are some most unusual lifts, extraordinary solos and pas de deux. Technically, the dancing is superb.
Thomas Greenfield gives a splendid performance as William Dawes. As the Indiginous woman, Patyegarang, Jasmin Shepphard is strong, lithe and generous in her tutoring role. She attempts to bridge the gap between the two cultures, sometimes of the Dreamtime, sometimes possibly as a mermaid. As Dawes, Greenfield is a man of science delighted and intrigued by all the new data around him. Compared to the far smaller Sheppard, Greenfield is huge and the duets between the two are highlights of the show, particularly with the pair observing the stars (‘Night Sky’) hinting at more than a platonic friendship. Greenfield also has a couple of extraordinary featured solos.
Nick Schklieper’s awesome lighting designs can be soft and lyrical, as in the dawn rising sequence; romantic, as in the ‘Night Sky’ segment; and starkly dramatic in others. Jacob Nash’s sculptural, textured landscape set design, with a gentle hill, is also splendid. I admire the way in which the tent used by Dawes and Patyegarang looks like a leaf and is Indigenous in design, and the way at one point the women’s costumes convert to simulating dilly bags (others of my colleagues were reminded of lizards). David Page’s ecclectic electronic soundtrack includes bird call, speech, gunshot, colonial folk songs and relentless rhythm. Jennifer Irwin’s sensational costumes are sometimes very simple, yet at other times incredibly layered and detailed with amazing texture.There is also a striking use of a red diagonal arrow/rainbow design of many layers and this design resurfaces on the company’s new issue of t-shirts.
The final section (‘Resilience’) has a maritime feeling as Dawes has to leave while Patyegarang and her people remain. They are defiant and in some ways it’s as if they chase the British away. But only momentarily.
Rating: 4½ out of 5 stars
Patyegarang
Bangarra Dance Theatre
Artistic Director/Choreographer: Stephen Page
Composer: David Page
Set design: Jacob Nash
Costume design: Jennifer Irwin
Lighting Design: Nick Schlieper
Dramaturg: Alana Valentine
Cast: Jasmin Sheppard, Thomas Greenfield, Waangenga Blanco , Elma Kris
Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point
www.bangarra.com.au
12 June – 5 July
Canberra Theatre Centre
www.canberratheatrecentre.com.au
17 – 19 July
State Theatre Centre, WA
www.ticketek.com.au
30 July – 2 August
QPAC, Brisbane
www.qpac.com.au
15 – 23 August
Arts Centre Melbourne
www.artscentremelbourne.com.au
28 August – 6 September
