Coranderrk

Coranderrk is the graduating production for students of WAAPA’s Aboriginal Theatre Course and designed and crewed by WAAPA Production and Design Students. Superbly performed and sensitively acted, the standard of this performance belies the fact that this is a one-year course.

The show has excellent production values, with Jessica Taukiri’s highly aesthetic set blending a Victorian government building feel with nature. The dozens of costumes are designed by Lani Robinson with excellent hints to character, with sound designed by Bryce French Pearton and an emotionally conscious lighting design created by Anna O’Day. 

Coranderrk is a verbatim theatre piece that recounts the 1881 Victorian Parliamentary Enquiry into the future of the Coranderrk Aboriginal Reserve, which saw the residents of the reserve take on the Aboriginal Protection Board.

Leading the cast is Sarabi Gristwood as the narrator, whose relaxed and friendly direct address immediately has the audience on side - a personable and impressive actress. Cadence McNamara and Ooen-s’tae McDonald, though also skilfully playing historical roles, spend most of their time with us in the present time, offering a modern perspective and opinion.

Playing single roles are Andre Fernandez and Alana Dooley as the characters who are running the inquiry - Cameron and the Scottish Anne Bon - strong central performers with whom we can empathise and relate.

The remaining cast play multiple people giving evidence to the enquiry - switching ages, genders, accents and sides with expertise. Memorable performances include Mitch Chaloner playing the oldest and youngest of the roles – elder, William Barak and young boy, Phinnimore Jackson, Jaden Thomas playing the detested and unlikeable Reverend Strickland with earnest self-righteousness and Jai Craig-Fraser and Shevon Mcormack who played more characters than anyone else, switching costumes and roles at what must almost be a run and making each person different and distinct.

A moving and well-acted look at an important but little-known historic event, that had its small audience enthralled.

Kimberley Shaw