DAILY PROGRAM
SUNDAY 28 MAY
MAMULUBMA | Mermaids
9am–5pm | The Gallery
FREE
DARANIGI GULWA
Our Songs With Darryl Barba & Eddie Kitching
12–6pm | Balcony Bar
FREE
GULIGI NUMANGGWA
Big Blak Dot Comedy
Spectacular -- Kevin
Kropinyeri Goes Talkabout & Dora Smith
5–7pm | Stuido Theatre
$20-35
MAYIMA | Eat & Drink
Tasty treats on site will power you through the Festival Friday to Sunday. See yourcentre.com.au closer to the Festival dates for details.
HOW TO BOOK Online
Tickets can be purchased, and registrations made, at yourcentre.com.au
Phone & Email 08 8980 3333 | boxoffice@yourcentre.com.au
Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm and one hour prior to performances.
When you book online or over the phone, you’ll receive a confirmation email of your booking. Follow the instructions in the email to access your tickets. For assistance, contact the Box Office.
A one-off service fee of $5.50 per transaction applies on all purchases online, by phone and at the Box Office. See yourcentre.com.au for full ticket Terms and Conditions.
TICKETS
Purchase a Friday or Saturday Ticket Package and save $10 off the combined ticket price.*
Friday Ticket Package includes Janet’s Vagrant Love and Andrew Gurruwiwi Band. Saturday Ticket Package includes Gina Williams & Guy Ghouse and An Evening with Ursula Yovich.
*T&Cs apply. Discount applies to the same ticket type across both shows.
We are proud to offer Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community members access to a limited number of $20 Community tickets for each performance.
DARWIN ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE IS THE OFFICIAL HUB OF GARRMALANG
FESTIVAL 2023
VENUE INFO
Darwin Entertainment Centre is located at 93 Mitchell Street, Darwin.
The venue is smoke free and BYO alcohol is not permitted. Beverages are available for purchase at the venue bars.
Access
For access requirements please contact the Box Office.
More information can be found in our FAQs .
FRI 26 MAY
ANDREW GURRUWIWI BAND
Special Guest Paul Ah Chee
Venue: The Playhouse
Time: 8.15–10.10pm
Tickets: $20-40
A high-energy, seven-piece funk and reggae group, the Andrew Gurruwiwi Band honed their sound on the beach at Birrtjimi and in the dirt of Yirrkala, Arnhem Land. Led by Andrew Gurruwiwi — a shy but extravagant, blind, keytar-wielding Yolŋu Elder — the band’s sound is Yolŋu funk at its finest. Their debut single ‘Gatjumak’, which means ‘go for it’, is explosive, guaranteeing an eruption of fierce dancing when they hit The Playhouse stage. Supported by special guest Paul Ah Chee with new music to share and MC’d by Eddie Kitching.
Main image: Andrew Gurruwiwi Band image Andrew Grimes
Inset image: Paul Ah Chee
SAT 27 MAY
AN EVENING WITH URSULA YOVICH
Special Guest Chris Tamwoy
Venue: The Playhouse
Time: 8–10pm
Tickets: $20-40
Sink into the soulful sounds of Ursula Yovich and a live band in an electrifying evening of song. Join this multi-award-winning performer with bassist Adam Ventura (Midnight Oil) on a journey through the universal language of song, inspired by Ursula’s roots in Arnhem Land. Supported by special guest and guitar virtuoso, Chris Tamwoy and MC’d by Ursula Raymond.
Main image: Ursula Yovich image Richard Hedger
Inset image: Chris Tamwoy image Carmen Gee Media
FRI 26 MAY
JANET’S VAGRANT LOVE
Elaine Crombie
Venue: Studio Theatre
Time: 6.45–8pm
Tickets: $20-40
Hard truths, humour and heartfelt song told in a commanding performance. Elaine Crombie delivers raw and intimate songs and experiences, punctuated with wicked one-liners and sharp observations. Janet’s Vagrant Love is a refusal to lie down and be silent.
Image: Elaine Crombie in Janet’s Vagrant Love
SUN 28 MAY
GULIGI NUMANGGWA | Big Blak Dot Comedy Spectacular
Kevin Kropinyeri Goes Talkabout & Dora Smith
Venue: Studio Theatre
Time: 5–7pm
Tickets: $20-35
MC’d by Deadly Darwin’s Richie Fejo, Big Blak Dot Comedy Spectacular wraps up the Festival with legendary comedian Kevin Kropinyeri who is set to bring his A-game with some new ‘proppa’ Blakfulla yarns about his colourful and chequered past. Joining the line up is Deadly Funny Grand Finalist Dora Smith who brings a breath of fresh air to the stage with her musicality, wit and unpredictable and cheeky, yet relatable sense of humour.
Main image: Kevin Kropinyeri
Inset image: Dora Smith
SAT 27 MAY
GINA WILLIAMS & GUY GHOUSE
Venue: Studio Theatre
Time: 6–7pm
Tickets: $20-30
Ancient language, contemporary music, stunning vocals, poignant stories and guitar brilliance. Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse use music to highlight one of the most beautiful and rare languages; Noongar language of the southern corner of Western Australia. As conduits of a fractured past, they are agitators for a hopeful future. Their work has always been about what connects. You don’t need to understand the words — love, loss, joy all means the same thing, no matter how you say it.
Image: Gina Williams & Guy Ghouse
WED 24 & THU 25 MAY
THE GARY LANG STORY
Venue: Studio Theatre
Date & Time: Wed 24, 7–8pm & Thu 25, 10–11am & 7–8pm
You’re invited to an honest, fun and raw hour of storytelling that opens a door into Gary Lang’s past. Memories will be regaled with a dash of controversy, for a unique and entertaining insight into the renowned Larrakia man, Founder and Artistic Director of NT Dance Company, Gary Lang.
Image: Gary Lang image Paz Tassone
FRI 26 MAY
LUGLUG & DAMARA-LIDJI
Official Gathering & Welcome
Venue: Darwin Entertainment Centre
Time: 5.30–6.30pm
FREE
Festival attendees are officially welcomed to Garrmalang Festival 2023 with a traditional smoking ceremony and dance by local Larrakia community members. Then, enjoy a very special performance by a choir of local youth, performing songs created during workshops with multi-award-winning duo Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse.
Image: Garrmalang Festival image Benjamin Warlngundu Ellis
SAT 27 MAY
NUMANGGWA-GUM | Blak Talk
The Voice — Let’s Talk About the Question
Venue: The Playhouse
Time: 12-1pm
FREE Registration required
Later this year eligible Australians will vote in a referendum on whether or not to give First Nations Australians a Voice to the Australian Parliament and the Government.
What does this mean for you? What will you do? Moderator Ursula Raymond and expert panellists invite you to join them to talk about The Voice!
Image: Blak Talk image Leicolhn McKellar
WED 24 — SUN 28 MAY
MAMULUBMA| Mermaids from the Batchelor Institute Art Collection
Venue: The Gallery
Date & Time: Wed 24 — Sat 27, 9am–9pm Sun 28, 9am–5pm
Mamulubma (tail) celebrates the mystery and allure of mermaids — female saltwater and freshwater spirits who enmesh sites and stories of significance in First Nations cultures. For this exhibition, works in various mediums will be drawn largely from the Batchelor Institute Art Collection.
Image: Lena Yarinkura, Yawkyawk Mermaid, 2002, ochres on woven pandanus fibre, 130 x 25cm. Image courtesy the artist; Collection: Batchelor Institute Art Collection
SAT 27 MAY
DARRIBA NARRI MINANGGURRGWA
YABARRAG | Elders’ Morning Tea
Venue: Balcony Bar
Time: 9–11am
FREE Registration required
The popular Elders’ Morning Tea brings our community together to honour those who have passed on their knowledge, paved the way and continue to inspire us all. Everyone is invited to sit together, enjoy music by Aunty June Mills as well as tea, coffee and delicious treats, while celebrating our First Nations Elders.
Image: Elders’ Morning Tea image Sarah Pekin
SAT 27 MAY
DARANIGI GULWA | OUR SONGS with Prayer Corby, Damien Armstrong, Robert Mills Collective
Venue: Forecourt
Time: 11am–8pm
FREE
SUN 28 MAY
DARANIGI GULWA | OUR SONGS with Darryl Barba & Eddie Kitching
Venue: Balcony Bar
Time: 12–6pm
FREE
Darwin’s finest First Nations musicians provide the soundtrack to a balmy weekend of Festival celebrations. Kick back with a drink and something to eat and enjoy the music.
Image: Robert Mills Collective image Mark Sherwood for Foldback
SAT 27 MAY
NUMANGGWA YILI RRIYUNG
Blak Meeting Place
(Marketplace)
Venue: Darwin Entertainment Centre
Time: 9am–2pm
From arts and crafts to services, Blak Meeting Place provides a welcoming space to browse the works of makers and artists and talk to groups providing essential services to our First Nations communities.
Image: Garrmalang Festival image Leicolhn McKellar
