Black Swan State Theatre Company Presents SKYLAB by Melodie Reynolds-Diarra

The launch of a science laboratory into Earth's outer orbit was hailed as a miracle of the modern age. But what was really going on up there? The nature of the experiments conducted was kept top secret...

It's July 1979. NASA's Skylab is hurtling towards Earth, about to crash land near Esperance in remote Western Australia. Nev, Jem and the kids have no idea that their world is about to change: reality shifts, conspiracy theories abound and a pink horse appears out of nowhere. The town's white fellas start behaving strangely too, with apologies for taking black fellas' land and handing over all money owed.

Dreamtime meets Monkey Magic in this fantastical comedy where things that were once considered impossible, become not only possible, but real.

Based on a true story - only the facts have been changed to protect the innocent!

For the first time, BLACK SWAN is collaborating with Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company to present this world premiere of a new Western Australian sci-fI comedy.

Originally developed by Ilbijerri's Black Writers Lab; Moogahlin's Yellamundie National First Peoples Playwriting Festival, Playwriting Australia's National Play Festival with Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company.

CAST INCLUDES: Eva Barlett - Amy Gary Cooper - Uncle Harvey Liani Dalgetty - Amy Donnathia Gentle - Sonia Juliette Laylan - Sonia Alan Little - Nev father Rayma McGrath Morrison - Nan Benjamin Narkle - Nate Jacob Narkle - Nate Laila Rind - Jem mother

DIRECTOR Kyle J Morrison
SET & COSTUME DESIGNER Matthew McVeigh
LIGHTING DESIGNER Mike Nanning
SOUND DESIGNER/COMPOSER Clint Bracknell
VISION DESIGNER MIA Holton

SUITABILITY 12+
WARNING Some strong language

VENUE: STUDIO UNDERGROUND

Skylab will be touring to Karratha on 5 Sept, 8.30pm Red Earth Arts Precinct

Carnarvon on 8 Sept, 8pm Carnarvon Civic Centre Camel Lane Theatre.

Skylab was a US space station launched by NASA on the 24 May 1973, and was manned by teams of astronauts as it orbited the earth. It collected vast amounts of data and images before being abandoned in space in 1974.

In 1979, NASA realised that Skylab was starting to break up and would re- enter the earth atmosphere, but they were unable to control Skylab's path, nor could they predict exactly where the pieces might land.

As NASA, and the world's media, tracked Skylab's progress in early July 1979, it seemed it could end up anywhere.

In the early hours of the 12th of July, 1979, Skylab crashed on WA's south east coast, scattering debris across the Nullarbor and the eastern goldfields and causing a worldwide sensation.

NASA officials arrived in Esperance to check out the wreckage. Every local that brought a piece of Skylab to the shire offices to be verified was given a plaque.

Pieces of Skylab debris, large and small, were found scattered over the Esperance townsite and farming areas.

A large piece of the space station was found by the Grewar family after it fell on their farming property East of Norseman.

But it was a US newspaper, the San Francisco Examiner, who turned the hunt for souvenirs into a frenzy when they offered $10,000 dollars to the first person to arrive at their office with an authentic piece of Skylab - the winner had just 72 hours to get to America. The prize was claimed by 17year old Stan Thornton from Esperance.

After the incident, the Shire of Esperance had a cheeky jab at NASA by issuing a $400 littering fine for scattering debris across the region.

The fine went unpaid until 2003 when a Californian radio DJ and his listeners raised funds to pay off the fine to the shire.

Since the crash, NASA has not been reported littering in the Shire of Esperance.

The Skylab space station put Esperance on the map and in international headlines. President Carter issued an apology to Australia:

"I was concerned to learn that fragments of Skylab may have landed in Australia. I am relieved to hear your Government's preliminary assessment that no injuries have resulted. Nevertheless, I have instructed the Department of State to be in touch with your Government immediately and to offer any assistance that you may need."

Many of those fallen pieces are on display at the local Esperance Museum, offering a fascinating glimpse into America's first stab at living in space.

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