ORIGINS: on the Road
Indigenous / First Nations Playwrights and Theater Makers
Breaking News - August 2008
Australian
Aboriginal Playwright David Milroy tours the United States
Australian playwright David Milroy is to tour the United States in
September 2008. He will speak to classes, conduct workshops, and
meet with American Indian communities and organizations.
He will be at:
- The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, September 11-12, 2008, through the Theater Arts and Dance Department and the Department of Anthropology,
- Sinte Gleska University, Mission, South Dakota, September 15-16--Sinte Gleska was one of the first tribal colleges in the United States and remains committed to its earliest purposes: to preserve and teach Lakota culture, history and language to promote innovative and effective strategies to address the myriad of social and economic concerns confronting the Sicangu Lakota Oyate,
- Oglala Lakota College, Kyle, South Dakota, September 18-19—Oglala Lakota College is chartered by the Oglala Sioux Tribe. Its mission is to provide educational opportunities which enhance Lakota life,
- Fort Berthold Community College, New Town, North Dakota, September 23-24. The Fort Berthold Community College is chartered to provide quality cultural, academic, and vocational education and services for the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nations, and the
- University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, September 26, through the Department of Theatre and Film.
David Milroy’s United States Tour is funded by contributions from the Australian Embassy, the University of Minnesota, Sinte Gleska University, Oglala Lakota College, Fort Berthold Community College, the University of Kansas, and Bronitsky and Associates. For more information please contact: .
The launch of ORIGINS: First Nations Theater from around the
World was an inspiring time for the participants as well as the
organizers. An exciting initiative of this first meeting was the
seeding of the ORIGINS: on the Road project.
ORIGINS: On The Road is a framework to tour and present Indigenous playwrights and theater makers to host communities around the world. Many of the best and renowned Indigenous playwrights and theater makers from Australia, Canada, Aotearoa New Zealand, the Sami Territories and the United States are being approached.
To date we have confirmed participation from:
- David Milroy - Palyku Nation,
Australia; has written and directed a number of plays
including “King Hit”, “Runumuk”, “Swine River “and the
multi-award winning “Windmill Baby”. David was the first
coordinator of Dumbartung Aboriginal Artist Advisory Council and was
Artistic Director of Yirra Yaakin Noongar Theatre for seven
years.
- David Velarde - Jicarilla Apache
Nation, United States; has written a number of plays,
including Rez Mutts, Bubba, Dakwe Nasya, and Jamison Returns
- Harriet Nordlund - Sami Nation,
Sweden; former Artistic Director of Beaivváš Sámi Teáhter
– The Norwegian National Sámi Theatre Company)
- Trevor Jamieson - Pitjantjara
Nation, Australia; performer, actor and storyteller.
Trevor co-wrote “Ngapartji Ngaparti” which has had considerable
success on the Australian major Festival circuit.
- Drew Hayden Taylor – Ojibway from Curve Lake Reserve, Ontario, Canada; playwright, filmmaker, humorist and columnist; winner of some of Canada’s most prestigious drama awards for his work, which includes Only Drunks and Children Tell The Truth, and the four part Blues Series.
The playwrights and theater makers will be available to travel to your country and community and are able to give readings, do workshops with writers (Indigenous and non-Indigenous), give talks, work with your young people and spend time with your local theater makers.
Bronitsky and Associates in partnership with Border Crossings in London will coordinate the tours and work with you to find the resources needed to host.
For more information and to register your interest please click here.
