Yanagai! Yanagai!

Production still for "Yanagai! Yanagai!". L-R: Tony Briggs, Bryan Andy. Photographer: Ponch Hawkes

Yanagai! Yanagai!

By Andrea James

05 September 2003 – 27 September 2003 Merlyn Theatre

Playbox Theatre Company, Melbourne Workers Theatre,

New Writing Theatre Musica Collaboration

Munarra is a black woman, thrown from the skies into the Dreaming so that she may heal her land, the mighty river Dhungula and her people. In the present day, the Yorta Yorta people are in court, fighting for a right to their land. Yanagai! Yanagai! is a war cry, the first recorded Yorta Yorta words spoken to the white men who went onto their land uninvited.

Since its premiere in Melbourne in 2003, Yanagai! Yanagai! has been performed in France, the United Kingdom, the United States and the Philippines. Now in a revised edition, Andrea James’ Yanagai! Yanagai! is a celebration of Yorta Yorta stories and song.

Some of the stories are told so that they may be remembered; others are told in the hope that they never occur again.

Production still for "Yanagai! Yanagai!". L-R: Lisa Maza, David Adamson. Photographer: Ponch Hawkes
Production still for "Yanagai! Yanagai!". L-R: Lou Bennett, Bryan Andy, Lisa Maza, David Adamson. Photographer: Ponch Hawkes
Production still for "Yanagai! Yanagai!". L-R: Bryan Andy, Tony Briggs. Photographer: Ponch Hawkes
Production still for "Yanagai! Yanagai!". Lisa Maza. Photographer: Ponch Hawkes
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Production still for "Yanagai! Yanagai!". L-R: Lisa Maza, David Adamson. Photographer: Ponch Hawkes

Production still for "Yanagai! Yanagai!". L-R: Lou Bennett, Bryan Andy, Lisa Maza, David Adamson. Photographer: Ponch Hawkes

Production still for "Yanagai! Yanagai!". L-R: Bryan Andy, Tony Briggs. Photographer: Ponch Hawkes

Production still for "Yanagai! Yanagai!". Lisa Maza. Photographer: Ponch Hawkes

Cast

Lou Bennett

Composer, Actor

Lisa Maza

Lisa Maza

Actor

Tony Briggs

Tony Briggs

Actor

Bryan Andy

Actor

Creatives

Patricia Cornelius

Patricia Cornelius

Dramaturg

Mark Thompson

Consultant

Philip Lethlean

Philip Lethlean

Lighting Designer

David Franzke

David Franzke

Sound Designer

Phillip Millar

Puppet Maker

Andrea James

Playwright, Director

Peter Lawler

Composer

Sarah Kriegler

Sarah Kriegler

Puppetry Consultant

Katrina Gaskell

Puppet Maker

Natasha Marich

Stage Manager

Osman Salih

Mechanist

Amanda Banks

Costume Co-ordinator

Tim Prince

Composer