Powerful, enlightening and entertaining, My Cousin Frank is a storytelling experience with one of Australia’s greatest artistic and cultural leaders, Rhoda Roberts AO. Join Rhoda in a special performance as she shares tales of her first cousin Frank Roberts, a boxing champion who was the first Aboriginal Olympian.
Rhoda has been working with her immediate and extended family, the Widjabul Wia:bul community and First Nations creatives for over two years now with the ambition of creating a new theatre work which is currently in development – First Aboriginal Olympian.
This process has revealed the story’s richness, complexity and significance of Frank Roberts’ life and the time in which he lived. My Cousin Frank seeks to be the first step in sharing this story.
“My Cousin Frank provides insight into why boxing was so important in our family, the limited pathways out of poverty, the push for education, the story of Cubawee Aboriginal Reserve, our family and community.”
“Writing this story involved extensive research, community consultation, and personal reflection. It’s been a journey of uncovering my family’s history and ensuring its authenticity and impact on the audience.”
“I am so proud to be sharing this part of our family story and to put Lismore on the map as the home of the first Aboriginal Olympian,” said Rhoda Roberts AO.
Northern Rivers based Director/Choreographer Kirk Page is working with Rhoda Roberts to bring the fighting spirit of Frank Roberts and her mob to life in the telling, as she recalls a family’s journey from the tumultuous era of dispersal and silence to navigating a world controlled by Government policy.
“My role in staging this storytelling project was to ensure that the essence of Frank’s journey and the Roberts family’s spirit were vividly conveyed. What attracts me to this story is its profound significance and emotional depth. It’s a story that needs to be told,” said Page.
NORPA’s Executive Director, Libby Lincoln says My Cousin Frank is an important creative step to the creation of a new NORPA theatre production – First Aboriginal Olympian.
“The story of Frank’s life is so rich that we wanted to support Rhoda in honouring his life and legacy by first simply telling his story. We hope the story of the first Aboriginal Olympian will attract the national attention it deserves,” said Libby.
Don’t miss this opportunity to join Rhoda Roberts in this special performance of personal storytelling.
Director: Kirk Page | Writer & Performer: Rhoda Roberts AO | AV Design: Jahvis Loveday | Sound Design: Damian Robinson
My Cousin Frank
Star Court Theatre, 126 Molesworth Street, Lismore
Performances: Saturday 24 August 2024 – 2.00pm & 7.30pm
Information and Bookings: www.norpa.org.au
Byron Theatre, 69 Jonson Street, Byron Bay
Performances: 30 & 31 August 2024
Information and Bookings: www.norpa.org.au
Image: Rhoda Roberts AO – photo by Kate Holmes