FEATURING WEST AUSTRALIAN YOUNG VOICES, NOONGAR CHILDREN’S CHOIR, WESTERN AUSTRALIAN YOUTH ORCHESTRA & THE JAZZ BAND

WESF1486 9/2019

KOOLBARDI WARDONG

WER

Presented in association with the AWESOME Arts Festival, West Australian Young Voices and Western Australian Youth Orchestra

Composers Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse Arrangement and Orchestration Dr Chris Stone Conductor Aaron Wyatt Director Matthew Reuben James Ward Movement Director Olman Walley Set and Costume Designer Matt McVeigh Lighting Designer Mark Howett Sound Designer Jeremy Turner Wardong Jarred Wall Koolbardi Jarrad Inman Djidi Djidi Tyrone Brownley Miss Djidi Djidi Natasha Eldridge Ngaank Boodja Gina Williams AM The Jazz Band Guitar Guy Ghouse Double Bass Dr Nick Abbey Percussion Dr Daniel Susnjar Featuring Noongar Children’s Choir and West Australian Young Voices Featuring Western Australian Youth Orchestra Repetiteur Adrian Soares Production Manager Mandy Farmer Stage Manager Karen Farmer Assistant Stage Manager Finlay Pedler Head of Wardrobe Nora Stelter Wardrobe Assistants Nicole Marrington, Colleen Sutherland, Qi Cao and Rosemary Hodge Head of Hair/Wigs Virginia Hawdon Milliner Susi Rigg Head of Make Up Sharon Kyrwood Masks made by Giovanni (Sanjiva) Margio Set build by Plumb Artsworkshop Scenic cloths painted by Jo Darvall Head mechanist Ian Studham Surtitle Operator Allison Fyfe Koolbardi wer Wardong is a Wesfarmers Arts Commission. Information is correct at the time of publication but may be subject to changes.

This season of Koolbardi wer Wardong is supported by

Do something h t i w l u f g n i n a e m the kids learn to sing!

Discover WAO’s free digital singing lessons at www.learn.waopera.asn.au Join Perry Joyce, on a journey of vocal discovery to explore rhythm, tempo, pitch, dynamics and form. Lessons are suitable for children 8-12 (and adults of all ages!)

Composers’ Notes Matt Rueben James Ward, your deft hand in directing this without losing any of the integrity of the language, music or story, we cannot thank you enough. What a privilege it has been to work with you. Chris Stone, you’re a genius. What an incredible delight to work with you our ngooni (brother), our koorda (friend). Fun!

We respectfully acknowledge we are on the sacred boodja of the Whadjuk Moort. Whadjuk people have held this country for 3000 generations. Today, we honour the elders of this land, with hearts filled with love and gratitude for the strength, tenacity, wisdom and grace you have always held, and because of which our beautiful language prevails. We want to thank the Noongar community for the support and love already shown for this work, and in turn for us. We hope you will love this celebration of language and storytelling, and we have made you proud. Ultimately, this is our love offering to you. Koolbardi wer Wardong is rightly held with great affection by young and old within our community, it is a wonderful story with a powerful message: Pride always comes before the fall. It is important that we stay humble in all things. Because when one of us succeeds, then it is good for all of us. We thank WAO for their trust and generosity in the creation of this work. Thank you to Carolyn Chard, Chris van Tuinen for your incredible kindness and grace. Thank you Terasa, Mandy, Matt (the costumes and set designs are AMAZING), Coralie, Danielle and all the crew at WAO. This has been such an incredible experience thanks to all of you.

Special thanks to Olman Walley. Your ability to bring old knowledge to these characters gives a special depth we otherwise would never experience. The musicians from the WA Youth Orchestra, the jazz musicians on stage, all under the skilful hand of our brilliant conductor Aaron Wyatt, thank you. Our beautiful Barna Chorus would not be possible if it weren’t for the work done by Perry Joyce and Katie How at WA Young Voices. And thank you to the parents who have supported these young people at rehearsals. The Principles, Jarred Wall, Jarrad Inman, Tyrone Brownley, Natasha Eldridge, talk about putting the oooOOOooo into moorditj! We could not have asked for a better cast and we thank you for all that you have done to bring these characters to life. We hope you enjoy seeing this work, a lot of heart and soul has gone into its creation. Our hope is that this work sparks a love of Noongar language for all ages and sectors of the WA community, as our local language and stories are what separate us from every other corner of the globe. Kalyakoorl, ngalak warangka (Forever, we sing).

Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse

Conductor’s Notes

There’s something about magpies. It has been a powerhouse year for Indigenous opera on both sides of the country, and these splendid birds have found themselves front and centre throughout. Between lockdowns in Melbourne, I had the pleasure of recording the viola part for Deborah Cheetham’s new opera, Parrwang Lifts the Sky. This heartwarming tale from Wadawurrung country tells the story of the first dawn, darkness lifted from the earth by the magpie, Parrwang. In Gina Williams’ and Guy Ghouse’s new opera Koolbardi Wer Wardong, we’re instead treated to a cautionary tale: two brothers, crow and magpie, whose pride becomes their undoing.

But while the message of this traditional Noongar tale is serious, the music is fun, the tunes infectious, and Williams’ voice is so often hauntingly beautiful in her narration as Ngaank Boodja, Mother Earth. Chris Stone’s orchestration expertly blends a jazz rhythm section with orchestral strings and winds to stay true to the original style of the songs. I would find it hard to imagine a better vehicle to promote the revival of a language and culture that has been at home on this land for thousands of years. And it has been a real privilege to be part of such a monumental first: an opera, in Indigenous language, by Indigenous composers conducted by an Indigenous person. Thank you so much to the creative team, WAO, and everyone else who has supported this project and made it possible. Aaron Wyatt Conductor

Vice Regal Patron’s Message

Executive Director’s Message

As Vice Regal Patron of West Australian Opera, it is fantastic to see the state opera company commission new work.

We are fortunate and grateful to be able to share for the first time the story from the Nyittiny of the koolbardi (magpie) and the wardong (crow).

We are very fortunate to be the first to hear Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse’s work come alive on stage.

Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse have given us this special new work performed in Noongar language. We are proud to bring new work and local stories to audiences whilst preserving a rich history of language, legacy and culture.

It is heartening, and so important, to preserve language and tell stories for all to enjoy with this work presented in Noongar. West Australian Opera contributes much to the arts in Western Australia by developing and presenting world-class opera at His Majesty’s Theatre, offering education and community programs, school workshops, touring regionally and developing young talent through the Wesfarmers Arts Young Artist Program. The company’s excellence is recognised through the generous support of state and federal governments, and the private donors and corporate supporters who assist the opera company to put work on the stage, including their Principal Partner Wesfarmers Arts who had the foresight and commitment to commission this work.

The Honourable Kim Beazley AC Governor of Western Australia Vice Regal Patron West Australian Opera

The creative development and workshops were made possible through the support of Wesfarmers Arts and I would like to thanks Helen Carroll Fairhall, Anthony Gianotti and Naomi Flutter for their continued encouragement. This has been an inspirational collaboration working together to draw out these richly layered stories. We are proud that Gina and Guy have provided the opportunity to safeguard language and culture through their work. The Barna made up of rising talent in West Australian Young Voices and the Noongar Children’s Choir accompanied by Western Australian Youth Orchestra under the baton of Aaron Wyatt breathe life into the story. At West Australian Opera we love the arts. We want to present opera that moves you, enchants you and makes you think about the magic of being alive in the world today. We speak to the heart through the human voice. We share the joy of music, theatre, dance, acting, visual arts. We bring people together and make them feel alive by igniting emotions and imaginations with the power of sung stories. We hope you have a sense of this magic hearing Koolbardi wer Wardong for the first time.

Carolyn Chard AM Executive Director West Australian Opera

Chairman’s Message

On behalf of the board of West Australian Opera I am proud that we are able to bring to the stage a world first with the commissioning of a new work to be performed in Noongar language. With the direct support of Principal Partner Wesfarmers Arts, we were able to commission Gina Wiliams and Guy Ghouse to write Koolbardi wer Wardong. The clear aims to preserve language, to teach our next generations and to enable a legacy through sung stories shared on stage, are evident. Opera is an important and beautiful art form, and we are committed to both its preservation and renewal. We appreciate the valuable support of sponsors, partners, trusts, foundations, patrons, donors and audiences without whom commissioning and presenting opera would not be possible. Your attendance plays an important role in the life of West Australian Opera.

Thank you Healthway, Lotterywest, The Bendat Family Foundation, the Minderoo Foundation and Civic Partner the City of Perth. We are grateful for the continued support of the Federal Government through the Australia Council and RISE funding, and the State Government through the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries. We are committed to ensuring that West Australian Opera is at the forefront of innovation, and plays a meaningful role in connecting opera across cultural, geographic and demographic contexts. We hope you enjoy this landmark production of Koolbardi wer Wardong and continue your invaluable support for your State Opera company. Andrew Pascoe Chairman West Australian Opera

Gina Williams AM

Guy Ghouse

Dr Chris Stone

Noongar singer-songwriter Gina Williams AM is a rare performer who captures hearts and imaginations by connecting deeply through the power of song. You know when the magic happens – a hush falls over the room; you can feel it, and you know it’s special.

There are few guitarists who connect to their music and perform without compromise like Guy Ghouse, one of the most respected guitarists in Australia, as a producer, artistic director, collaborator or any role where his guitar and music has a place.

Violinist, composer and artistic director Chris Stone began his musical journey playing Scottish fiddle music barefoot at folk festivals around Australia.

It’s even more special when it’s in a rare and ancient language as Gina has been doing with audiences all over the world. Love, loss, joy all mean the same no matter the words; whatever the language.

It is Desert Child that most people would associate with Guy, performing at major festivals in Australia and overseas and opening for acts including Ottmar Liebert, Jose Felliciano, James Morrison, John Butler, Vince Jones and many more. He has played festivals and venues across the UK, Europe and Asia including a guitar pilgrimage to Seville, Grenada and Malaga in Spain, and the Bath Guitar festival in the UK.

Composer and Ngaank Boodja

With less than 400 speakers of this language left, Gina brings (with collaborator Guy Ghouse) a modern take on ancient traditions, matching powerful storytelling, guitar brilliance and that incredible, incandescent voice. The natural rhythms of the Noongar language are perfectly captured, and her disarming onstage presence comes from a heart that simply refuses to surrender her voice and language to silence. “...this music...this is where the ancient meets the contemporary...it’s beautiful... I love it...” - Archie Roach,

Singer-songwriter, national treasure

Composer and The Jazz Band Guitarist

In 2001 Guy produced his first language album for Bidyadanga artist Mervyn Mulardy and later John Bennett, which came as a result of his community work leading to the establishment of the Bidyadanga Music Project, a suicide prevention initiative. With Gina, he continues with his passion for preserving language through music.

Arrangement and Orchestration

After completing post graduate studies at the Victorian College of the Arts, he founded the renowned chamber-folk trio The String Contingent and toured original compositions with them for 10 years around Australia and internationally, collaborating with artists such as Genevieve Lacey, Sandy Evans, Lindsey Pollak and Julian Thompson. Chris joined Canberra’s new music group The Griffyn Ensemble in 2014. He composes, arranges and produces for the group, who have collaborated with a wide range of leading national and international artists such as Scotland’s new music group the Red Note Ensemble, one of China’s leading Pipa players Hongyan Zhang, and indigenous hip-hop artist Jimblah. In 2016 Chris became Artistic Director of string music camp Stringmania which explores and celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity through music, and invited Noongar singer/songwriter Gina Williams as special guest to the inaugural camp. Chris holds a PhD from the Australian National University, where he researched alternative fingerboard navigation techniques for improvisation on the violin.

Aaron Wyatt Conductor

Aaron is an accomplished violist who, before moving to Melbourne to take up an assistant lectureship at Monash, was a regular casual with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. He has played in a wide variety of ensembles across many different genres, and has toured internationally with a number of groups, including the award winning Decibel New Music ensemble. Aaron is also the developer behind the Decibel ScorePlayer app, the group’s cutting edge, animated graphic notation software for the iPad. He was nominated for a Helpmann Award for his role as musical director of the premiere season of Cat Hope’s new opera, Speechless, at the 2019 Perth International Arts Festival, and has recently taken on the role of director of Ensemble Dutala. The brainchild of Yorta Yorta soprano and composer Deborah Cheetham AO, the group aims to bring together Indigenous classical musicians from around the country. Most recently, he premiered Cheetham’s new work, Nanyubak, for viola and orchestra as a soloist with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

Matthew Reuben James Ward

Olman Walley

Raised in regional WA in Carnarvon, Katanning and Albany, Matt has gone on to lead an international career as a tenor and director. As a performer his credits include the Messenger in Stephen Fry’s Life to Come (Britten Theatre London), Western Union Boy in English Touring Opera’s Olivier Award Winning Paul Bunyan (Linbury Studio Royal Opera House, UK tour), Frantz in Tales of Hoffmann (English Touring Opera, UK tour), Giacomo in L’assedio di Calais (Armel Operafesztivál Budapest, Arte TV live broadcast, English Touring Opera), Monostatos in Die Zauberflöte (Mid Wales Opera), Borsa in Rigoletto (Opera Project), Jiminy Cricket in Pinocchio and Carter in King Tut (Charles Court Opera London).

My name is Olman Walley and I am a Nyoongar man from Perth.

Director

As a director Matt has created and directed numerous performances, with commissions from plays to research & development programs, having collaborated with Operasonic UK, Royal College of Music Sparks Family Orchestra & Chorus London, BBC Symphony Family Orchestra & Chorus, BBC Proms Sing Plus and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Glyndebourne. For West Australian Opera, Matt recently directed Hansel & Gretel (Opera in the Park), performed School Master/ Mosquito in The Cunning Little Vixen and Remendado in Carmen.

Movement Director

I was raised in the Wilman (Wheatbelt) region and was taught Noongar culture by my family and elders. My Nyoongar name is Chitty Chitty (Willy Wagtail) and I love to share our stories, history, music, dance and culture. I have worked with Black Swan, Belvior Street Theatre, Middar Dance Group and many dance companies over the past 20 years. Dance is a passion of mine and I’m so happy to be a part of this beautiful production. Bendat Family Foundation Artist Movement Director

Matt McVeigh

Mark Howett

Jarred Wall

Matthew McVeigh is an interdisciplinary artist that graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts 2008, majoring in Design for Live Performance.

Mark Howett, originally from Busselton Western Australia and is proud to stand on Noongar Boodjar. He went on work experience as a 15-year-old in 1979 to the National Theatre, Perth, with dreams of becoming an actor. After two weeks, he joined the theatre family working as a lighting technician. He was later awarded a scholarship by the Department of Culture and the Arts to study Theatre Design, specialising in Lighting Design under the tutelage of Jennifer Tipton at the School of Drama, Yale University.

Fremantle singer songwriter, producer and dad, Jarred Wall is a proud Noongar man of the Wardandi Bibbulmun nation. A beat creator delivering unique melodies, harmonies, instrumentation and stella live show. With airplay on 4ZZZ, FBi Radio and RTRfm and TripleJ Unearthed, debut tracks ‘Hold my hand’, ‘It’s Just a Dream, Wake Up’, ‘Sentimental Dreams’ and ‘1984’ received placement on Spotify’s Deadly Beats Editorial and personalised spotify editorials playlists ‘Low Key Weekend and Weekend & friends’. ‘It’s Just a Dream, Wake Up’ and 1984 were both in the top 100 songs played on RTRfm for 2019/20.

Set and Costume Designer

Matt’s practice is best described as process and collaboratively driven, working across theatre, public art and community art. He has worked in the areas of dance, physical theatre, musicals, opera and puppetry. Matt has designed for Black Swan Theatre, Yirra Yaakin, SteamWorks, Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, WA Ballet, Performing Lines and Barking Gecko. He has been assistant designer for the Australian Ballet and Victorian opera as well as designing for many other independent companies. In the community sector he has worked in correctional facilities, with youth at risk, disability services and remote Aboriginal and regional communities. Matt continues to work on the Wu Rut Woorat in a studio on a heritage site on the banks of the Derbarl Yerrigan on Whadjuk Nyoongar country.

Lighting Designer

Mark is a multi-Greenroom and Helpmann Award winner who has worked not only as a lighting designer but a video and set designer for international productions in theatre, film, dance and opera. Over the past 10 years, he has focused his energy into directing more film and theatre. In 2016 he was appointed as Artistic Director of Ochre Contemporary Dance Company, Perth. Mark was Coordinator of Lighting Course at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Edith Cowan University from 1996 to 2000. He continues to teach at Edith Cowan University. He was also the artistic director for Ochre Contemporary Dance Co from 2016 to 2019.

Wardong

Boox Kid was featured by PILERATS for NAIDOC week 2020 and announced as part of the BIGSOUND50, the Industries top 50 emerging Australian Artists according to BIGSOUND. Recent performances include Perth BeerFest 2020, RTRfm Radiothon Party/Neon Picnic, WAMfest, Nannup Music Fest, BIGSOUND 2020, Isol-Aid, Sofar Sounds and support for Electric Fields, July 2021.

Jarrad Inman

Tyrone Brownley

Natasha Eldridge

Jarrad is a Noongar man raised in Kinjarling/Albany, Western Australia.

A proud member of the Waljen and Nyanganyatjarra tribes of the Wangkatha nation; through my father, and through my mother I am connected to the Wadjuk, Yued and Ballardong tribes of the Nyungar nation.

Singer-songwriter Natasha Eldridge is a Noongar Woman from Perth Western Australia who comes from a large Indigenous Family of the Whadjuk and Ballardong First Nations people of Australia.

Music has played a significant part of my life and have been singing since I can remember, my mother Marcia Brownley was a professional Country-music singer and my father Trevor is also musically talented. My brothers and I sang in the church growing up and still today, I continue to sing alongside my family professionally as we are known as “The Brownley Gospel Singers”.

A graduate of Abmusic in Perth WA, Natasha embraces her Indigenous culture by sharing stories through her songs, and fusing genres from RnB, blues, jazz, gospel, soul, rock and acoustic sounds.

Koolbardi

Jarrad was born in 2001, the youngest of three brothers who he credits for getting him into music. Now at the age of 20, Jarrad has been performing in various ways since the age of 11. Jarrad is passionate about his music and is the frontman and co-writer for his band The Manic. He cites David Bowie, Prince and Freddie Mercury as his major inspirations in music and stage performance. Jarrad’s acting career started in Albany at the age of 16 when he joined ALOTCO (Albany Light Opera Theatre Company) and would continue throughout the years in Albany. Jarrad commenced studies at WAAPA in early 2020 but due to the pandemic, had to move back to Albany. Now returning to Perth Jarrad looks forward to continuing his career in the arts. Whether with The Manic or with the WAO, Jarrad is always excited to perform for a crowd.

Djidi Djidi

In 2016, my brother Linden Brownley wrote the song “The Man of Calvary” for the album The Sounds of the Goldfields, this song was nominated for a WAM award for the Song of the Year in the Indigenous category for 2017 and fortunately, we were successful in winning the category. In 2018, our song “Ma Goola” with artist Mathias Duplessey and the Violins of the World was written and sung in my father’s traditional language Wangkatha, hailing from the north-eastern Goldfields town of Kalgoorlie.

Miss Djidi Djidi

Natasha has toured extensively throughout Australia in various line ups and has a number of performance credits on Noongar country to her name including shows at the Astor Theatre, Fly By Night, Perth Concert Hall, Heath Ledger Theatre, Crown Casino Ballroom, Convention Centre for the The Perth NAIDOC Ball 2015, 2016 and 2020 and City of Perth Birak Festival 2017, 2019 & 2021. Natasha joined the Homelands Tour as a music mentor, singer-songwriter and performer for the National Folk Festival, 2019. Natasha’s second Award Winning single ‘Because Of Her We Can’ (NAIDOC theme 2019) was arranged by the acclaimed West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO) and performed with Natasha at The Perth Concert Hall in 2019.

Jarred Wall as Wardong and Jarrad Inman as Koolbardi. Promotional images by Duane Orriss, Daniel DiFranco and Sean Finney.

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN YOUTH ORCHESTRA VIOLIN 1

Ryan Lee William Wu Hannah James Gretel Smith Erica Wong Nicole Zhao

VIOLIN 2

Benjamin Caulfield Daniel Corvaia Poppy Savage Aaron Ooi Zander Thexeira Sowon Kim

VIOLA

Oscar McDonald Hannah Clark

CELLO

Elena Wittkuhn Callum Vukovich William Ji Finlay Labuschagne

DOUBLE BASS

Josh Spirek Charlotte Greenway

FLUTE/ PICCOLO Dominique Rees

CLARINET Clare Waters

BASSOON

Melissa Mikucki

Owl masks and Churditch masks (right) made by Giovanni (Sanjiva) Margio. Photos by Alison Rodrigues.

NOONGAR CHILDREN’S CHOIR Amelia Birch

Korben Lorimar

Ameliyah Seelander

Declan Stotter

Jannali Seelnader

Harlem Bennell

David Seelander

Tom McGill

Travis Miller

Aurora Brown

WEST AUSTRALIAN YOUNG VOICES DIRECTOR

REHEARSAL MANAGER

Brylee Butterworth Aida Choo Riley Davies Josephine (JoJo) Ellis Domini Foss Ella Jurjevich James (Jimmy) Jurjevich Alexia Leake Thomas Lovegrove Emily Neal Caleb Rochester Lauren Sivacolundhu Fiona Tan

Holly Westlake Victoria Whiting Maddy Wickham-Brown Rigby Barnes Ella Byers Dior Chai Ashley Croft Harriett Dawson Liam Fitzpatrick Amelia Foster Sophia Healdgrove Leandro Holmes Raymond Hopkins

Perry Joyce Katie How

Teresa Nicholls

Molly Johnson Hudson Kitney-Koek Ava Laurie Ian Leeks Eva McDonald Lily McDonald Sofia McDonald Charlotte O’Hara Alina Rosenkevich Anya Rosenkevich Allan Tan Matilda Wilson Genevieve Kessey

SYNOPSIS Koolbardi wer Wardong is based on a traditional Noongar story. Koora koora, nyittiny boodja… We start this story a long, long time ago, when the earth was cold. Ngaank Boodja (Mother Earth) comes to start telling this cautionary tale to the barna, the other animals. Koolbardi the Magpie and Wardong the Crow were once close, like brothers. They used to go hunting and fishing together, they would spend all their time together happily playing and laughing. Both birds had white feathers. Both birds were very beautiful, and they both knew it. They were also secretly jealous of one another. Koolbardi is the more outgoing of the two. He loves attention and thrives on praise. He also sometimes takes the credit for doing things that he hasn’t always done. Koolbardi thinks Wardong is a bit stuffy and a bit boring and a bit too preoccupied with catching fish. Wardong is a bit quieter and considers himself more intelligent. Wardong thinks Koolbardi is a terrible show off, though he would never say this. Wardong also thinks he is a better hunter and tries to order his brother around to catch fish and hunt as a way to show he’s better and cleverer. Early morning at the river, the two brothers are fishing. As usual, Koolbardi has no luck while Wardong catches lots of fish. Nearby, two Djidi Djidi come in to watch and tease Koolbardi for some fun. Seeing his brother becoming angry and upset, Wardong offers Koolbardi some of his catch to take back to camp. He reasons that all is not lost, together they can feed the others at camp and both be loved and admired by the other barna.

Wardong and Koolbardi. Promotional images by Duane Orriss, Daniel DiFranco and Sean Finney.

Naughty, precocious Koolbardi steals all the fish and runs back to camp, leaving Wardong empty handed. Wardong is very cross at his brother. Ngaank Boodja sees this and they talk about what has just happened. Even though he is angry, Ngaank Boodja reminds him that it is a little bit unfair to keep forcing his brother to do something he doesn’t really like and isn’t very good at. Wardong sees her point and calms down. He collects his thoughts and heads back to camp to find Koolbardi and settle this argument. Much to his dismay he returns to see his brother in the middle of the camp, bragging and boasting about catching all the fish. Koolbardi asks the barna “Ngiyarn baal kwobidak? Ngiyarn baal kwobidak? Who’s the prettiest?” “Who’s the best looking?” The Barna, unaware of what has happened, excitedly sing back “Oh Koolbardi, there’s nobody finer than you!” This makes Wardong furious – the brothers fight, the scuffle ends when they both land in the fire. And this is where the change happens. Wardong lands in the fire, all his white feathers are turned black. Koolbardi tries to escape, flying high into the air, but he gets caught with the ashes and the smoke, making him black and white. Warra kedala nidja, koora moorditj koorda! Bad days come here to those who were once solid friends. Ngaank Boodja intervenes, sending the two brothers in opposite directions, never to be friends again. In this bittersweet moment, she reassures the rest of the Barna that this is for the best, and to never forget that pride always comes before the fall.

CELEBRATING A SHARED COMMITMENT TO CREATIVITY PROUD SUPPORTERS OF WEST AUSTRALIAN OPERA SINCE 2009 CELEBRATING A SHARED COMMITMENT TO CREATIVITY PROUD SUPPORTERS OF WEST AUSTRALIAN OPERA SINCE 2009

Jarred Wall as Wardong and Jarrad Inman as Koolbardi. Promotional images by Duane Orriss, Daniel DiFranco and Sean Finney.

UWA CONSERVATORIUM OF MUSIC Proud Tertiary Education Partner of the West Australian Opera As one of Australia’s leading music programs, in one of the world’s leading universities, we create the future leaders of the Arts community. music.uwa.edu.au CRICOS Provider Code: 00126G DCS 659809900

FEEL AT HOME AT QUEST EAST PERTH

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✔ 24 hour onsite management ✔ Newly opened CEO SkyLounge with a rooftop bar ✔ Secured parking next door ✔ Onsite conference facilities ✔ Onsite gym

Visit www.questeastperth.com.au or call (08) 6210 6000

THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS LEADERSHIP CIRCLE ($10,000+) Warwick Hemsley AO Dr Robert Larbalestier Anonymous (1) PRINCIPAL PATRON ($5,000+) Dr Jack Bendat AM CitWA Charmaine Cameron David Glance Dr Dennis Hayward The Robert Kimpton Family Annie & Neil Patrick Angela Roberts Dr Peter Simpson OAM Anonymous (2) BENEFACTOR ($2,500+) Neil Archibald & Alan R. Dodge AM Catherine Ferrari Dr. Maria Kailis Eleanor John Tessa La Mela Francis Landels Patrick Lilburne Dr Bryant Macfie Lisa Stewart Michael & Helen Tuite Anonymous (2) SUPPORTER ($1,000+) Gaysie Atkinson Dr Colin Binns & Dr Mi Kyung Lee Dr Peter & Mrs Rae Breidahl Joan Carney Helen Carroll Frank Cooper AO Michael Cowie Michelle Edwards Lorraine Ellard T & E Gerner Kathryn Hogan and Graham Droppert Ulrich & Gloria Kunzmann Simon Landers Ross and Fran Ledger Yuko Lucas Karen Parfitt Kerry Sanderson Glenice Shephard Kim & Keith Spence Agatha Van Der Schaaf Karen Venard Yannis Vrodos Dr Chris and Mrs Vimala Whitaker Diana Warnock and the late Bill Warnock Anonymous (7)

FRIEND ($500+) Tom and Mary-Anne Aram Cathy Bardon and Bob Cassie David Black Christine Burson Carolyn Chard AM Dr Douglas Clifford Dr Graham Douglas and Brian Lindberg Peter Eadington Sue Foster Rosemary Grigg & Peter Flanigan Dr Rosalind Hampton Cecilia Hastings Dr Penny Herbert Sue Joubert Jock & Jennifer Laurie Darren Lewsen Cathy and Cian Noonan Liane Papaelias Wendy Powles Jennifer Rankin Wayne Robinson Elizabeth Shelton The Sherwood Family Margaret Stockton Warren and Katharina Surtees Dr Peter Winterton Alison Woodman Anonymous (3) TRUSTS AND FOUNDATIONS Bendat Family Foundation Crown Resorts Foundation Packer Family Foundation Wright Burt Foundation The James Galvin Family Foundation Stan Perron Charitable Trust ANDREW AND NICOLA FORREST AO The generous gift of FMG shares is testament to the Forrest’s commitment to a strong and vibrant arts sector in Western Australia. BEL CANTO FUND Thanks to the leadership donors of the Bel Canto Fund. BEQUEST CIRCLE Anita & James Clayton Lorraine Ellard Ailsa West Anonymous (5)

Join our cast of supporters by donating online at waopera.asn.au. All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

VENUE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS PERTH THEATRE TRUST Chair Morgan Solomon Board Nadia van Dommelen Julian Donaldson Michelle Tremain Councillor Sandy Anghie Councillor Di Bain Councillor Clyde Bevan

Director General, Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and General Manager, Perth Theatre Trust

Lanie Chopping

VENUE ADMINISTRATION Venue Manager Helen Stewart Manager Venue Operations Alexandra Lehmann and Madeline Joll Event Operations Coordinator Jenny Lee Administration and Accounts Assistant Fiona McNiece Administration Assistant Julianna Noonan Stage Door Keeper David Bell Box Office Supervisor Jenny Franklin Archivist Ivan King OAM

VENUE TECHNICAL Director of Technical Services Mark Howett Deputy Director Technical Services Matthew Nankivell Production Manager Amelia Dymond Audio Supervisor Noah Ivulich Audio Visual Supervisor Stacy Buegge Staging Supervisor Matt Power Head Flyman Steven De Vries Lighting Supervisor Kerrie Wilshusen

Wardong and Koolbardi, Jarred Wall as Wardong and Jarrad Inman as Koolbardi (right). Promotional images by Duane Orriss, Daniel DiFranco and Sean Finney.

WEST AUSTRALIAN OPERA WAO STAFF

BOARD Chairman Andrew Pascoe Deputy Chair Catherine Ferrari Christiaan Heyning Darren Lewsen Ingrid O’Brien Jan Stewart Janet Barnes Anthony Gianotti VICE REGAL PATRON The Honourable Kim Beazley AC, Governor of Western Australia PATRON Dr Jack Bendat AM CitWA HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS Dario Amara Julie Bishop Richard Bonynge AC CBE Terry Bowen Frank Cooper AO Erich Fraunschiel Colin Goddard Warwick Hemsley AO Francis Landels Bruce Martin AM Margaret McManus Dr Richard Mills AM Annie Patrick Marilyn Phillips Vincent A Warrener AM KHS

Executive Director Carolyn Chard AM Artistic Director Christopher van Tuinen Production Manager Mandy Farmer Artistic Administrator Kate Larkins Accountant Debbie Byrnes Education Manager Terasa Letizia Education Assistant Gabrielle Ibrahim Development Coordinator Catherine Noonan Development Assistant Ariane Beyer Marketing Manager Danielle Barlow Acting Marketing Manager Alison Rodrigues Marketing Coordinator Holly Langford-Smith Media Coordinator Daniele Foti-Cuzzola CRM Coordinator Rachel Sait Financial Accountant Trish Wyn-Jones Music Librarian Allison Fyfe

Koolbardi (left) and Wardong (above). Promotional images by Natalie Hind, Duane Orriss, Daniel DiFranco, Sean Finney.

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THANK YOU PRINCIPAL PARTNER

MAJOR PARTNERS ACCESS AND COMMUNITY PARTNER

CIVIC PARTNER

PARTICIPATION PARTNER

OPERA IN THE REGIONS PARTNER

OPERA PARTNERS

TERTIARY EDUCATION PARTNER

COLLABORATING PARTNERS

Western Australian

Youth Orchestras

GOVERNMENT PARTNERS This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.

WEST AUSTRALIAN OPERA West Australian Opera acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work, the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.