A funny, charming and real portrait of Tasmanian Aboriginal culture, Nathan Maynard’s multi award-winning drama, The Season heads to the Riverside Theatres and the Seymour Centre as part of a national tour this September.
Sharp as a tack and blunt as a brick, The Season features the exciting – but all too rare – combination of an Aboriginal writer (Maynard), director (Isaac Drandic) and a seven member cast comprised of some of the nation’s most distinguished Aboriginal actors including Trevor Jamieson (The Secret River).
Winner of three Green Room Awards and three Tasmanian Theatre Awards, The Season focusses on one larger-than-life family, the Duncans, who return to their shed on Bass Strait’s Dog Island for ‘the season’ – the annual harvesting of mutton-birds. Amid the threat of snakes and Pop’s explosive temper, the family reunites with a country and culture still very much alive.
With their long memories and smart-arse streak, it’s not just the bird sticking their beaks where they are not welcome. Old memories are dug from their burrows and fledging rivalries begin to take flight – it might all fall apart if it wasn’t for the fierce love that holds this bunch together.
“The mutton bird takes the longest migration of any animal in the world, a migration of 30,000 kilometres,” says Maynard. “They are simply amazing and resilient as hell. Just like the people they are forever connected to.”
Big-hearted, upfront and honest, The Season provides a fascinating glimpse into a little-known tradition. It joyously celebrates a thriving culture that continues to grow and strengthen despite several centuries of colonisation.
Director: Isaac Drandic Featuring:Mathew Cooper, Nazaree Dickerson, Trevor Jamieson, Lisa Maza, Della Rae Morrison, Maitland Schnaars, James Slee Set and Costume Designer: Richard Roberts Lighting Designer: Rachel Burke Sound Designer: Ben Grant Writer: Nathan Maynard Dramaturg: Peter Matheson Producer: Tasmania Performs
The Season
Riverside Theatres, Corner Church & Market Streets, Parramatta
Season: 20 – 22 September 2018
Information and Bookings: www.riversideparramatta.com.au
Everest Theatre – Seymour Centre, Corner City Road & Cleveland Street, Chippendale
Season: 25 – 29 September 2018
Information and Bookings: www.seymourcentre.com
Image: Trevor Jamieson stars in The Season – photo by Simon Pynt