Darlinghurst Theatre Company Presents Jane Harrison's Award-Winning RAINBOW'S END

In association with Moogahlin Performing Arts, Darlinghurst Theatre Company is proud to produce Jane Harrison's 2012 Drover Award-winning RAINBOW'S END - an inspiring story of hope and resilience, from Australia's First Peoples - on Gadigal land.

Moogahlin Performing Arts is one of Australia's leading First Peoples Theatre Companies. Moogahlin (Muu-gaaarl-in) is a Yuin/ Bunndjalung word meaning to play or to fool about. First formed in Redfern in 2007 in honour of the late Kevin Smith's request and in memory of the founding members of the Blak Theatre, this year the company celebrates 10 years since incorporation. In 2007, two of its founders Frederick Copperwaite and Lily Shearer staged Lessons in Flight by Maryanne Sam. Now we are thrilled to see their return, along with co-founder and co-Artistic Director Liza-Mare Syron for Rainbow's End.

Playwright Jane Harrison's first play Stolen has played across Australia and internationally and toured again in 2018. Her novel Becoming Kirrali Lewis won the 2014 Black & Write! Prize, and was shortlisted for the Prime Minister's Literary Awards and the Victorian Premier's Awards.

Three generations of the Dear family live together in a rundown shack on the Goulburn River flats. Gladys yearns for a better life and a decent job. Her teenage daughter Dolly has dreams of becoming a nurse, while her resilient grandmother, Nan Dear, is resistant to change. Dolly falls for Errol, a travelling salesman, whose offer of another world sees their lives take an unexpected turn.

Set against the backdrop of the Queen's visit in 1954, acclaimed playwright, Harrison (Stolen) tells an uplifting story about the struggle for community acceptance during the Menzies era. It draws a spotlight to issues that, after all these years, continue to dominate our headlines. In spite of its historical context, RAINBOW'S END is very much a story of our times.

Star of last year's Blackie, Blackie Brown at the STC, Dalara Williams joins Lily Shearer (winner of the Australia Council Award for outstanding achievement in the arts) and Frederick Copperwaite (The Gods of Wheat Street for ABC TV), alongside Phoebe Grainer (Mirror's Edge for STC) and Lincoln Vickery (Top of The Lake 2: China Girl) in a new production directed by Liza-Mare Syron (The Weekend, The Fox and Freedom Fighters). Production Designer Melanie Liertz (Good Cook, Friendly. Clean at Griffin Theatre) together with Lighting Designer Karen Norris (Barbara and the Camp Dogs, The Weekend) have created an evocative dreamscape reminiscent of the great landscape artist Goobalathaldin Dick Roughsey, renowned for the children's book The Rainbow Serpent.

Director Liza-Mare Syron says, "Jane Harrison's play is a classic story of love and family against the backdrop of Aboriginal Australia in the 1950's. This account is beautifully constructed through the wonderful characters in the play and I believe it is a play that will belong in the canon of contemporary indigenous plays in Australia."

From 10 August - 1 September - NOW ON SALE
at the Darlinghurst Theatre Company, Eternity Playhouse - 39 Burton St. Darlinghurst
BOOK NOW: https://sa2.seatadvisor.com/sabo/servlets/TicketRequest?&presenter=AUDTC&event=19RAIN&tck=true or call (02) 8356 9987

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