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Waltzing the Wilarra
Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company

Venue: Space Theatre
When: Mon 27 Feb 02:30 PM - 02:55 PM
Genre: Music Theatre / Opera / Cabaret
Main Audience: All Ages
No. in touring party: 17

Waltzing the Wilarra

“Racy toe-tapping musical numbers abound…just when you think you've seen the best act of the evening, the next one arrives.” - Victoria Laurie, ABC Perth.

Three unforgettable characters Charlie, Elsa and Fay take you back to 1940s post-war Perth. Back to curfews and consorting on the sly at ‘The Club’ .That magical place where white and black are ‘allowed ‘ to meet and dance the night away to swinging tunes and soulful singing. However a dark edge is creeping into the night...

Forty years on as the club faces demolition, Charlie, Elsa and Fay meet up at their old stomping ground. No nostalgia party, they confront a series of long held and bitter secrets and discover that reconciliation is more than just saying ‘sorry’.

Interspersed with edgy, ‘black’ vaudeville humour and political satire with bite, this is truly unforgettable night in the theatre!

Waltzing the Wilarra* is a multi-award winning Aboriginal music theatre work, is written and composed by playwright David Milroy (Windmill Baby) and directed by Wesley Enoch (The Sapphires); a teaming of one of Australia's most exciting Indigenous directors with one of its most successful writers.

*wilarra means full moon

Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company

Yirra Yaakin, [Yir-raarh Yaarh-kin] which means “Stand Tall” in Noongar language, is committed to producing and presenting a mixture of contemporary and classic Indigenous theatre, balanced with our existing community service and education programs.

Based in Perth, Western Australia, Yirra Yaakin exists to share Aboriginal stories. Established in 1993, our stories have reached 13 countries in five continents and we have performed in all states and territories of Australia servicing the most remote and isolated communities.

Yirra Yaakin has won awards for theatre practice, governance and partnerships, including a prestigious Sidney Myer Award for our record of facilitating Indigenous artistic programmes. The company has commissioned and premiered over 50 new theatre works. These include major festival presentations such as Waltzing the Wilarra, One Day in 67, Aliwah, Windmill Baby, Alice and Cruel Wild Woman.

“Yirra Yaakin is my favourite theatre company anywhere. It is innovative, energetic and politically charged, and this new production is no exception.” - John Kinsella, The Australian.

First produced by Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company.
Toured by Performing Lines.

Photo: Trevor Jamieson and Ursula Yovich by Jon Green