How do we navigate a world in flux?

What do the voices of First Nations artists, who have collectively experienced a cataclysm, tell us about the way forward?

PRECARITIES is a hybrid deep listening experience featuring some of Australia's best First Nations artists working in the fields of music and spoken word, in its world premiere season.

The beating heart of this deeply resonant and stridently political sonic artwork is the possum skin drum, tuned to the urgent sound of one of Shakespeare's most quoted soliloquies - translated into Wiradjuri.

PRECARITIES combines blackfella-style cabaret, music for solo violin and rapid-fire spoken word with performances by comedian Steven Oliver, poet and activist Lorna Munro, rapper DOBBY (aka Rhyan Clapham), violinist Eric Avery and singer-songwriter Ancestress, curated by sound artist, radio broadcaster and journalist Daniel Browning.

One thing: this is no typical Blak Box - we go live and external, bringing our artists together for two nights in active collaboration in a real-life echo chamber of the Cutaway, lit with soft amber and sky blue by lighting designer Karen Norris.

Accessibility:

This event will be seated, with the option for attendees to stand if they wish.

There are entrances from Towns Place, Hickson Road, Munn Street Reserve and Merriman Street. Wulugul Walk is relatively level and, like all dedicated pedestrian pathways in the Reserve, is 3.8m wide. At the northern end, Wulugul Walk provides stair-free access to the Waranara Terrace and the Stargazer Lawn. Lifts connect all levels at Nawi Cove, Waranara Terrace and Stargazer Lawn to the carpark.

Language Warning:

This performance contains language that may not be suitable for young audiences. Discretion is advised.

CREATIVE TEAM

Curator: Daniel Browning

Lighting Designer: Karen Norris

Creative Producer: Travis de Vries (2021 creative development)

Key Artists:

Eric Avery

Lorna Munro

Steven Oliver

Rhyan Clapham (aka Dobby)

Ancestress

FILM & PHOTOGRAPHY

This performance will be filmed and photographed for promotional and documentation purposes. If you do not wish to be filmed or photographed, please inform a member of the Utp team before the event.

This work is commissioned by the NSW government

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body

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