This May Bangarra Dance Theatre presents Mathinna, an exhilarating, brand new work by Stephen Page.

Inspired by a young girl’s journey between two cultures, Mathinna traces the history of a young Aboriginal girl removed from her traditional life, adopted into western colonial society to be ultimately returned to the fragments of her original heritage.
 
Young Mary was born on Flinders Island, Tasmania in 1835 to the Chief of the Lowreenne tribe, Towgerer, and his wife Wongerneep. As a young girl, Mary captured the hearts of Governor Sir John and Lady Jane Franklin and was adopted into their household at Government House in Hobart. Mary was renamed Mathinna. Somewhat an educational and charitable project, Mathinna was raised with the Governor's daughter Eleanor and was described as a ‘very nice, intelligent child’.
 
When Governor Sir John and Lady Jane Franklin returned to England, Mathinna was sent to the Queen’s Orphan School in Hobart

where she struggled to adjust. When Mathinna was sixteen she left the school to rejoin the last remnant of her people at an Aboriginal station at Oyster Cove, south of Hobart. At this settlement Mathinna’s life came to a disheartening end.
 
Mathinna became the archetype of the ‘stolen child’ and, in this brand new work, Bangarra Dance Theatre recreates her powerful story of vulnerability and searching in an era of confusion and intolerance.
 
As a prominent Australian Indigenous arts leader and following his recent honour as NSW Australian of the Year, Bangarra Dance Theatre Artistic Director Stephen Page evokes the traditional Indigenous spirit in this latest full-length work.

Bangarra Dance Theatre continues to resonate world wide as an acclaimed Australian contemporary dance company of unique style committed to the traditions of Indigenous culture. With music by David Page and Set Design by Peter England, Mathinna is sure to be a powerful, thought provoking and timely work in light of recent reconciliation events.
 
Get your tickets!

Melbourne
The Arts Centre, Playhouse
May 16th-24th
Brisbane
Queensland Performing Arts Centre
May 29th-June 7th
Canberra
Canberra Theatre Centre
June 19th-21st
Wollongong
Illawarra Performing Arts Centre
July 2nd-4th
Newcastle
Civic Theatre
July 11th-12th
Sydney
Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House
July 22nd-August 23rd

www.bangarra.com.au