The Baulkham Hills African Ladies Troupe

Tariro Mavondo by Lisa TomasettiThe Baulkham Hills African Ladies Troupe is a collaboration between acclaimed director Ros Horin and four extraordinary women who came to Australia as refugees.

Yarrie Bangura grew up in a camp in Guinea. She has just finished her HSC. Aminata Conteh-Biger is from Sierra Leone. She is an ambassador for the UNHCR. Big Mama Rosemary Kariuki-Fyfe is from Kenya. She is a community leader and she knows how to live. Yordy Haile-Michael grew up in an army. She has four kids and lives in Lalor Park.

With the help of other African women – singers, dancers and actors – these women marvellous turn their extraordinary stories of survival into a joyous theatre of humanity. This is how they celebrate a new beginning in a land of refuge.

In 2010, Horin began a research process which lead her to STARTTS (the NSW service for the rehabilitation and treatment of torture and trauma survivors) where she met many different women who had survived terrible violence.

One by one, she developed relationships with a core group of women and interviewed them about their experiences. She introduced all the women to each other and in 2011 they began meeting one night a week to explore ways to communicate their stories, using song, dance and drumming as well as text.

“Theatre has an extraordinary ability to make us see things from a new perspective, and transform the difficult realities of our lives” says Horin.

“The production examines the effects of trauma and what it means to be a survivor of abuse and violence. Most of all it is a celebration of the resilience, courage and spirits of these remarkable women.”

The Baulkham Hills African Ladies Troupe has sold out to Belvoir subscribers. Other patrons are advised to contact the Box Office to join a waitlist.

The Baulkham Hills African Ladies Troupe
Belvoir St Theatre (downstairs) – 25 Belvoir Street, Surry Hills
Season: 15 August – 15 September 2013
Bookings: (02) 9699 3444

For more information, visit: www.belvoir.com.au for details.

Image: Tariro Mavondo by Lisa Tomasetti