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TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PARTICIPATION IN SYDNEY GAY AND LESBIAN MARDI GRAS 2000 |
WOMAN'S BUSINESS
WHEN: Sunday February 13TIME: 3pm - 7pm
WHERE: Green Park, Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst
INFO: 0414 616 986
PRICE: Free
South Sydney's Council's Cuisine on the Green and Mardi Gras present a free concert celebrating the best of our Indigenous and Islander women performers, including Leah Purcell, Kerrianne Cox, Manuhiri, Deb Morrow and the Stiff Gins.
Leah Purcell is perhaps best known for her acclaimed one-woman show Box the Pony, which was seen at the Festival of the Dreaming, the 1999 Edinburgh Arts Festival and Belvoir Street. She has also been seen in Police Rescue and Fallen Angels, won the Best Female Artist 'Deadly' Award [National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music Awards] and supported Shania Twain's national tour.
At 24 years of Age Kerrianne Cox, who hails from Beagle Bay Mission near Broome in WA, is one of Australia's premier indigenous performers. Simply playing her 6-string guitar, the beauty of her songs and lyrics are deeply moving.
Manuhiri are three Pasifik women from Aotearoa [aka New Zealand] and the Kingdom of Tonga. Manuhiri is Seini Taumoepeau, Maea Martin and Ora Barlow. Manuhiri's original contemporary songs celebrate the experiences and the lifestyles of three Polynesian women.
Deb Morrow was born at Paddington Hospital in Sydney and was immediately taken from her mother. Adopted at the age of six months by a foster family, Deb found out she was of the Wangaaybuwan people from Central Western NSW. Deb has been singing over the last 18 years as a solo performer, with bands and other performers. She says her powerful voice is a 'gift' from her ancestors.
Sydney's The Three Stiff Gins have carved out a strong reputation in a very
short time with their original music and great voices. The Stiff Gins are
Nardi Simpson, Kaleena Briggs and Emma Donovan. The three met while students
at the Eora Centre fro Aboriginal Studies in 1997 and have been performing
professionally since 1999. In 1999 they were nominated for the 'Deadly'
Award for Most Promising Talent.
THE CONCERT
WHEN: SATURDAY FEBRUARY 19TIME: 5.30PM - 10PM
WHERE: CENTENNIAL PARK
INFO: 02 9557 4332 OR The Mardi Gras Web Site
BOOK: TICKETEK [02] 9266 4822
It had to happen - Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras proudly presents the inaugural Festival Concert. Staged over five and a half hours in the beautiful outdoor setting of Centennial Park, this spectacular afternoon and twilight feast of music will compliment our world-renowned Parade and Party, becoming the third essential experience of our Festival season.
This event is designed to showcase the extraordinary talents of women in the music world. Hosted by the legendary Julie McCrossin, this fully staged production will feature internationally renowned performers, some of Australia's finest female voices and a few yet to be discovered stars in the making.
The Tiddas trio's proud opposition to apathy coupled with honesty, passion, humour and an unwavering commitment to sharing their stories makes them an emotional and powerful live experience. Formed in 1990, Sally Dasley, Lou Bennett and Amy Saunders have won three Deadly Sound Awards, an ARIA award and received nominations on two other occasions. After ten years together Tiddas (Aboriginal word meaning 'sisters') are breaking up so this may be your last chance to catch them in Sydney before they split!
The Concert is set to become the not to be missed event at this year's Mardi Gras Festival celebrations. Join five thousand friends in an unforgettable evening of entertainment. As we go to press the full program is being negotiated so keep an eye out for details or check the Mardi Gras website.
ALREADY CONFIRMED: Helen Reddy
Vika & Linda Bull
Deborah Conway
stella one eleven
the bluehouse
Tiddas
Topp Twins [NZ]
DREAMING ALOUD IN RENTED ROOMS
WHEN: Saturday Febuary 19TIME: 4pm
WHERE: the Seymore Centre, Cnr City Road and Cleveland Street, Chippendale
INFO: (02) 9264 8414
PRICE: Free
One Theme. Six diverse women writers from around the country. Ten minute
plays. Readings of new writings by: Paula Abood, Deborah Cheetham, Kathleen
Mary Fallon, Anne Harris, Noëlle Janaczewska, and Barbara Karpinski.
WHITE BAPTIST ABBA FAN
WHEN: FEBRUARY 23 - MARCH 3TIME: MONDAY TO SATURDAY 8.15PM
WHERE: Downstairs Theatre, the Seymore Centre, Cnr City Road and Cleveland Street, Chippendale
PRICE $25 [FULL] $20 [MG MEMB] $15 [CONC]
BOOK: SEYMOUR [02] 9351
Long before she became known as a gay Koori opera singer, Deborah Cheetham
was a white Baptist ABBA fan. One of the 'stolen generation', taken from her
Aboriginal mother as an infant, she was raised in a white, religious,
middle-class home.
Soprano, actor, composer, playright and unofficial National Treasure. The prodigiously talented Cheetham has transfixed audiences from Sydney to Switzerland with this critically adored show, which manages to elicit laughter frrom highly unlikely sources. Directed by Cathy Downes, with live quartet accompaniment. A genuinely resonant Australian voice
This is the remarkable story of her journey towards identity and fulfilment in the face of enormous personal challenges. "It's a beautifully crafted feast of music, wit and emotion."-The Australian White Baptist ABBA Fan was commissioned for the 1997 Festival of the Dreaming. Since then, the show has toured Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Switzerland. Cheetham now makes a triumphant return to Sydney, presented by Performing Lines.
"By turns hilarious and deeply moving." - The Bulletin
This extraordinary story, accompanied by four musicians, is an unmissable and unforgettable theatrical experience.
"It's theatre that seems to halt time . . . She takes her audience into her world and transfixes us there." - The Sun Herald
Q&A with Deborah Cheetham:
1. The most challenging aspect of doing a one-woman show?
The hours before the performance when I have to convince myself that there is enough of me emotionally to sustain the vocal as well as the dramatic demands of this particular show.
2. What have you discovered about yourself by performing White Baptist ABBA Fan?
That I really did survive and that I am a very strong woman. I have also realised more about other characters in my story and I've grown closer to them because of it.
3. Highlight of touring internationally?
Back-to-back sell-out seasons in Auckland and Zurich in 1999. There is something really thrilling about a full house.
4. If John Howard told you he was sorry, would it make a difference?
That would depend on his motive. Although I do not believe it is possible to overcome ignorance, I would have to question his sincerity.
5. Having translated your own life to the stage, who else would you like to play?
Every soprano would love to sing Violetta and I'm no exception. She is a truely noble character and a believable one (or at least she should be. I see a few Violettas who looked about as consumptive as Pavarotti.
6. OK, who was your favourite, Frida or Agnetha?
Definitely Frida (although strangely enough I once had a lover who looked exactly like Agnetha). Maybe it was the crooked teeth, or perhaps the green eyeshadow. Who can say?
FAIR DAY
WHEN: FEBUARY 20TIME: 10:30AM - 5:30PM
WHERE: Victoria Park, Parramatta Rd, Darlington
Black+Wite+Pink, working with the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, will be presenting a stall at Fair Day, that will entertain and inform.
Discover Corroboree 2000. Decorate a Hand. Find out more about Reconciliation. Register to participate with the BLACK+WHITE+PINK Corroboree 2000 FLOAT in the Mardi Gras Parade. Sign the petition affirming your commitment to Reconciliation and opposing the unjust mandatory sentencing laws of the Northern territory and Western Australia. Keep you eye out for Pauline Pantsdown and other Big Names. Or just chill out for a moment.
B+W+P are looking for Volunteers who would like to help on the Stall, contact Garry Convery
SYDNEY GAY AND LESBIAN MARDI GRAS PARADE 2000
There are two separate entries in this years parade with two separate messages celebrating Indigenous Australia: 'Our Country Our Queen' and 'Black+White+Pink Corroboree 2000'
WHEN: MARCH 4
TIME: 8.00PM
WHERE: The Parade starts at the corner of Elizabeth and Liverpool Streets, goes up Oxford St, along Flinders St, Moore Park Road and Driver Ave
OUR COUNTRY OUR QUEEN
Aboriginal workers from ACON (AIDS Council of NSW) and AFAO (Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations) who are co-ordinating the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lesbian, Gay, Sistergirl/Transgender Community Float for this year's Mardi Gras.The theme of the float is "Our Country Our Queen" with Francine as the Black Queen on the throne, decorated with Australian native flowers and plants, mounted on a flat top truck decorated to represent the Australian bush. The title reflects the truth of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lesbians, Gays and Sistergirls, and has the added benefit of being so topical after the recent referendum results. No EIIR for us!
Queen Francine is preceded by large ATSI and Rainbow flags.
Following Her Majesty are 20 Dancers in sequin lap laps who are rehearsing a special parade performance over the next few weeks.
Then comes the "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants, partners and friends group", carrying placards with appropriate language groups printed on them and waving large and small ATSI and Rainbow flags.
Call David Aanundsen or Kooncha Brown on (02) 9206 2000 for more information.
BLACK+WHITE+PINK Corroboree 2000
Updated information for participants. If you want to join us email Garry C
This year the Australian Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation and Australians for Reconciliation are joining Black+White+Pink, and sponsoring the 'Black+White+Pink Corroboree 2000' Float. This is the first time the Council has participated in Mardi Gras and we welcome their involvement. We are proud that our commitment to Reconciliation has been recognised at National level.
We will be an enormous group, walking under the Council's banner, which says: "Corroboree 2000 - walk the bridge for reconciliation May 28" on one side, and "The Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation thanks the lesbian and gay community for its support of reconciliation" on the other.
Australians for Reconciliation will also have a banner, stating "Australians for Reconciliation support the Indigenous gay, lesbian and sistagirl
communities."
Black+White+Pink will be adding the colour and movement with, letters spelling out RECONCILIATION, Black, White and Pink coloured words out and waving large and small decorated hands, balloons and streamers, long strips of red, yellow, black, blue, greem and white fabric, symbolising the glittering future that awaits us together. Everyone will be dressed in Corroboree 2000 t-shirts or in a black, white and/or pink theme.
Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous people of all sexualities and gender identities, who are committed to reconciliation are invited to take part in this fabulous parade entry partnership.
We are really looking forward to your participation, come and join us for an
evening of fun and community.
Contact Garry C: galconv@ipacific.net.au
Post: B+W+P, C/-AVP, Room 6, Level 1,
94 Oxford Street Darlinghurst 2010
Phone 9870 8305 for recorded information.
Leave a message on the machine if you need to speak to someone.
For the latest info
