THE SEASON
By Nathan Maynard
Tasmania Performs is thrilled to announce they will premiere the hilarious portrait of an Aboriginal Tasmanian family, The Season by Nathan Maynard, with an all-star cast at the Sydney Opera House as part of Sydney Festival from 10 to 15 January 2017. Written by celebrated local Aboriginal playwright Nathan Maynard and directed by Isaac Drandic (Coranderrk, Blak Cabaret, Peter Pan), The Season is a funny and poignant portrait of the Duncan family, who are back on Dog Island in Bass Strait for the annual mutton-bird harvest.
Each year plenty of tears, truths and laughs will be had during birding season; but this year, things are different. One generation is giving way to the next, the youngsters have their own way of doing things, and government regulation is making its presence felt – even on this remote patch of Tasmanian wilderness.
The Season features the exciting and all-too-rare combination of an Aboriginal Writer, Director and seven member cast, including Trevor Jamieson (The Secret River) and Tammy Anderson (I Don’t Wanna to Play House).
Nathan Maynard is a descendant of the Chief of the Troowolway Clan, and of the whole of the North East Tasmanian Indigenous peoples. He has a background in dance as well as playwriting, and was the recipient of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Artist of the Year Award in 2006 and 2013.
“When I’m birding, I know that’s exactly where I’m meant to be: amongst my people and the Birds,” Maynard said.
“The Mutton Bird takes the longest migration of any animal in the world…a migration of 30,000 kilometres each year. They are simply amazing and resilient as hell – just like the people they are forever connected to.”
Tasmania Performs will premiere this new show at Australia’s most iconic venue – the Sydney Opera House – as part of the Sydney Festival before bringing it back to Tasmania for a season as part of Ten Days on the Island.
Tasmania Performs Producer Annette Downs said, “It’s been such a joy working with Nathan to make this incredible show happen. Tasmania Performs is proud that we can bring Nathan’s triumph of Aboriginal Tasmanian storytelling to the Sydney Opera House stage then back home to Tasmania.”
SYDNEY
Dates: 10 – 15 January 2017 | Part of Sydney Festival
HOBART
Dates: 16-19 March| Part of Ten Days on the Island
Annette Downs Senior Producer | Tasmania Performs
