PREVIOUS WORKSHOPS

2002 - YIRRA YAAKIN WORKSHOPS

With a total of 70 workshops performed in various Schools in both the Perth Metropolitan area and Regional centres of the South-West, Goldfields and Gascoyne, Yirra Yaakin has maintained a steady commitment in providing curricula enhancing product. Facilitated by skilled Aboriginal arts practitioners, the workshops have included day sessions or block sessions over the course of two weeks and have taken the company to Albany, Pingelly, twice to Kalgoorlie and on tour with the Marr Mooditj health workers from Karrijini to Geraldton. A deal was also struck with the City of Joondalup to support Yirra Yaakin workshop presentations out into that region.

2002 - YIRRA YAAKIN PRESENCE AT VARIOUS FESTIVALS

Yirra Yaakin were involved in a total of 12 festivals or family events throughout 2002. These included, Survival Day, Mundjah Festival, Career Day, Mandurah Family Fun Day, Harmony Day, Art Gallery NAIDOC week. The primary purpose of these presentations were to build the profile of the Company at a grass-roots level and promote to a wide audience.

2002 - YIRRA YAAKIN International

2002 - INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS PERFORMING ARTS NETWORK

Taking the concept of BLAKSTAGE worldwide, Yirra Yaakin, in association with like minded counterparts based primarily in Canada and North America are driving the International Indigenous Performing Arts Network. This dialogue opens up a world of possibility through meaningful exchange and collective strategic approaches internationally.

2002 - BLAKSTAGE

Yirra Yaakin has continued its commitment as leaders in the community by driving BLAKSTAGE – the National Indigenous Theatre Alliance. This alliance is a historic move within the Indigenous theatre industry that has the potential to support collaboration, exchange and direction for individuals and companies working in all levels of Aboriginal Australian theatre.

2001 - YIRRA YAAKIN WORKSHOPS

With a total of 20 workshops performed in various Schools around the Perth Metropolitan area and South West Region, Yirra Yaakin has maintained a steady commitment in providing curricula enhancing product. Facilitated by skilled Aboriginal arts practitioners, the workshops have included day sessions or block sessions over the course of five weeks and have taken the company from Kalamunda to Fremantle, Boulder to Albany.

2001 - YIRRA YAAKIN PRESENCE AT VARIOUS FESTIVALS

Yirra Yaakin were involved in a total of 15 festivals or family events throughout 2001. These included, Survival Festival, Survival Day Launch [Forrest Chase], Mundjah Festival, Career Day, Mandurah Family Fun Day, Art Gallery Open Day. The primary purpose of these presentations were to build the profile of the Company at a grass-roots level and promote to a wide audience

2001 - YIRRA YAAKIN MENTORING OUR STARS OF TOMORROW

Yirra Yaakin continued to mentor and support Aboriginal people in theatre and community initiatives. This year, Yirra Yaakin supported emerging playwright Anna Marie Penny to attend her first ever Playwrights Conference, auspiced grant for young performers in a collaboration of original dance, soundscapes and theatre and continued with a successful and much valued Yirra Yaakin volunteer program.

2001 - SHINJU MATSURI FESTIVAL CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT SHOWING – AUGUST 2001

2001 - ONE DAY IN ’67

Yirra Yaakin’s Perth International Arts Festival 2002 production underwent an extensive creative development process in Broome – the community from which the story is based. Set in the world’s oldest outdoor movie theatre – Sun Pictures, ONE DAY IN ’67 became a highlight of Broome’s annual Shinju Matsuri Festival with people literally willing to sit on the floor the final night. The showing involved begging, borrowing and stealing props from many locals and community groups. This was an important step towards the community ownership of the play and also gave an opportunity for the Elders to view and critique a story loosely based on accounts from their recent past.

2001 - DEADLY SINGS

The Yowarliny Singers – Western Australia’s first Aboriginal Choir underwent a name change, a new direction and were back bigger, better and brighter. They had a busy year performing at various functions festivals and Schools as well as being special invited guests at the National Choral Festival. The DEADLY SINGS were recorded for broadcast on channel Nine performing a Traditional Torres Strait Islander song aired in the lead up to Christmas

2000 - WITI PARTANY (Auspiced Project)

Yirra Yaakin agreed to administer the funding for two Community Artists - Sheryl Osborne and Arif Sutar for their textile based community visual arts project with the Aboriginal community, particularly targeting Aboriginal youth.

2000 - WANDERING REUNION

Due to the work Yirra Yaakin put into developing KING HIT we were asked by a number of former inmates from Wandering Mission if we could help organise a reunion for all ex inmates of Wandering. We were able to attract a small amount of funding and sponsorship for the project and with the efforts of Rae Morrison as coordinator of the project the reunion was an outstanding success. This project stands as a testament to the ability of Yirra Yaakin and staff to not only produce professional theatre but also to support our community in positive ways.

2000 - SURVIVAL CONCERT (Auspiced Project)

Yirra Yaakin once again administered the ATSIC funding for this major community project and as well as a strong promotion, performed DJILDJIT under a tree to an audience of around 400 [with the kids telling the adults to be quiet!]

2000 - NAIDOC NOSTALGIA

Yirra Yaakin saw the need to recognise the elders in our community during NAIDOC Week. We developed a variety night featuring the talents of a number of our Noongar elders. The afternoon was catered for and after the show a portrait photographer was available for anyone who wished to have their photograph taken.

1999 - YOWARLINY SINGERS

The Yirra Yaakin Yowarliny Singers met every Tuesday night on Yirra Yaakin premises and performed regularly at Festivals, Award nights and openings. This community driven Choir had a group of about twenty regular Aboriginal participants and worked towards writing songs in Noongar language and developing a strong cultural presence.

The choir had a number of highs between 2000-2002 but there were also a few lows caused by the change over of choir masters. An exchange with SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK an all female African singing group, Performance at the Reconciliation dinner with Martin Luther King Jr III, tv performances for the Christmas Season on channel nine and inclusion in an international choral festival were but to name a few.

In 2002 the Choir made a collective decision to continue separate from Yirra Yaakin and relocated to ABMUSIC and ceased operating out of the Company in June 2002

1999 - PILBARA RESIDENCY

As part of our ongoing commitment to rural and remote workshops Yirra Yaakin has in conjunction with the Roebourne Youth Centre successfully planned and staged a festival at Roebourne featuring the artwork and talent of Roebourne Youth after a two month residency. This Festival was the culmination of our two year work with the youth of Roebourne.

• Lennie Smith - Co Facilitator
• Lynette Narkle - Facilitator
• Warren Collard - Co Facilitator

1998 - STEPPIN’ UP

As part of our community program Yirra Yaakin ran a series of workshops in the Kwinana and Karawara areas for Aboriginal youth. Under the guidance of Aboriginal tutors participants were taught circus skills, dance, play writing and acting. At the end of the twelve week projects participants performed at the Kwinana Theatre and the Karawara Hall. Both performances were attended by a large number of the local Aboriginal community. The Kwinana performance also involved participation from the Kwinana Senior High School in providing students for lighting.

• Lynette Narkle - Director
• Lennie Smith - Assistant
• Derek Nannup - Circus Skills
• Tanya Mead - Choreographer
• Michael Betts - Set Designer
• Ron Gidgup - Costume Designer

1998 - RURAL REMOTE and METRO WORKSHOPS

Workshops again featured strongly in 1998. Yirra Yaakin conducted theatre workshops for youth in Bunbury, Karratha, Leonora, Tom Price, Geraldton, Casuarina Prison and the Perth metropolitan area. There were also a number of workshops held at Edith Cowan University and the University of Western Australia.

1998 - PILBARA PROJECT

Yirra Yaakin is involved in developing youth theatre practice in the Pilbara region. As part of this development Yirra Yaakin was involved in the Roebourne Family Cultural day. Lennie Smith and Lynette Narkle worked with Roebourne youth in developing a dance and rap song as well as assisting in the rehearsal and running of the fashion parade. The response from the community and particularly the youth was overwhelming. A great deal of interest has been generated in staging a festival each year and developing more programs for Roebourne Youth that involve Arts and Theatre practice.

• Lynette Narkle - Workshop Leader
• Lennie Smith - Workshop Leader

1998 - COMMUNITY PROGRAM YOWARLING CHOIR

Under the guidance of Lynette Narkle, the Yirra Yaakin Yowarling Choir performed at a number of community and public functions. These included NAIDOC celebrations in Forrest Place and the opening ceremony of the new AMS premises in East Perth. The choir were able to develop a repertoire of original songs composed by choir members. Towards the end of 1998 the choir were working on songs in traditional Noongar language.

• Lynette Narkle - Coordinator
• Annie Neal - Choir Master
• Paul Reynolds - Choir Master

1997 - YORK FESTIVAL

Yirra Yaakin was asked to assist Kerri Winmar in producing and performing BUGGY ANNE by Ralph Winmar at the York Festival. The play was performed at the York Town Hall and featured Archie Roach singing ’Took the Children Away’. There was a large turnout for the performance and the audience was largely the Noongar community

1997 - WINJAN FESTIVAL

Yirra Yaakin featured strongly at the Mandurah Winjan Festival by presenting traditional Noongar story telling by Elders Dot Collard and Judith Wilkes. This proved to be very popular with young Aboriginal children.

1997 - RURAL RESIDENCIES

Rural Residencies continue to be in demand and although the absence of key staff members for stretches of time places the company under stress, Yirra Yaakin continues to respond to requests for rural residencies whenever possible. This year we spent time in Meekatharra, the Goldfields, Wandalgu (near Geraldton) and Broome.

1997 - RURAL REMOTE and METRO WORKSHOPS

Workshops featured strongly in 1997. Yirra Yaakin conducted theatre workshops for youth in Tennant Creek, Karatha, Esperence, Kalgoorlie, Rockingham and the Perth metropolitan area. There were also a number of workshops held at Edith Cowan University and the University of Western Australia.

1997 - COMMUNITY EVENTS

Yirra Yaakin took part in the following Community Events: Fremantle Festival; Yokai Rally; NAIDOC Week Celebrations at the Art Gallery of WA; Yirra Yaakin Yarn Up each fortnight on Aboriginal Radio 6AR.

1997 - CLAIMIN’

With the assistance of Aboriginal Artist Geoffrey Narkle, Aboriginal youth from the Midland area created a number of paintings and craft works leading to an exhibition. The exhibition featured a performance by Aboriginal Rap band DownSyde. There was a large turnout of parents and Aboriginal community members from the Midland area.

1997 - ADOLESCENT SEXUALITY VIDEO for Public Health Unit and AMS

Yirra Yaakin was commissioned by the Public Health Unit to develop a video script with Aboriginal youth participants on the theme of Aboriginal Adolescent Sexuality. The next stage of the project the production of the video using the same participants as actors is due to take place during 1997.

• Lynette Narkle - Director
• Kym Garlett,Gray - Assistant Director
• Paul Mac Phail - Writer

1996 - RURAL RESIDENCIES

• Meekatharra
• Kalgoorlie
• Wandalgu
• Broome

1996 - COMMUNITY EVENTS

• Freo Festival
• Yokai Rally
• NAIDOC Art Gallery
• Yirra Yaakin Yarn Up 6AR

1996 - ADOLESCENT SEXUALITY VIDEO for Public Health Unit and AMS

Start of development of the Lets Talk About Sex Video.

• Lynette Narkle - Director
• Kym Garlett,Gray - Assistant Director
• Paul Mac Phail - Writer

1995 - RANGEVIEW WORKSHOP PROGRAM

Workshops were conducted in Rangeview Remand Centre over a ten week period. Joe Bolton conducted an intensive circus skills program over three weeks. Workshops were also conducted in Music, Playbuilding and Theatre Sports.

• Peter Sibasado Musician
• Malcolm Phillips Musician

1995 - LONGMORE WORKSHOP PROGRAM

A prisons workshop initiative, working with male youth.

• Peter Sibasado - Musician
• Alice Haines - Musician

1995 - CLAIMIN’

The CLAIMIN’ project was based in two metropolitan areas with high Aboriginal populations - Medina/Kwinana and Karawara/Bentley. Each group ran independently for fourteen weeks (with an overlapping period, making the total project length 20 weeks). Through a number of initial meetings with the Medina Cultural Centre, the Karawara Community Centre and Aboriginal Youth in each area it was decided that an artist should work with the community to develop banners (Kwinana) and tabletops (Karawara) that would express the local flora and fauna. The banners could be used for Aboriginal community functions parades and displays and the table would be presented to a local community group for meetings, etc. The meetings in Kwinana also resulted in the employment of Patricia Riley, a past Yirra Yaakin participant, as community liaison officer.

The project involved a number of field trips into the bush and coastal areas where participants sketched various objects and animals from the area under the supervision of artists Jerry Morrison and Geoff Narkle. These sketches were then developed further at the Kwinana Arts Centre and Karawara Community Centre. Participants decided that there should be two banners and two tables. One of each would be of bush flora and fauna and one of coastal flora and fauna. The participants were involved in the whole process of developing the designs to the actual painting of the banners and burning of the tables.

During the workshop process a number of participants expressed a desire to do artwork on a smaller scale to be exhibited at the presentation evening. This resulted in a large collection of artwork being displayed on the night of the unveiling. These artworks were accompanied with a profile of the individual artists and a photograph.

The unveilings of the banners and tables were promoted throughout the local areas as a community event involving as many organisations and members of the Aboriginal community that we could cater for. A great deal of effort went into ensuring that the families of the participants attended the unveiling. On each unveiling night, photographs were taken of the participants with their parents next to the artwork. Speeches were also made by a number of participants.

In Kwinana, a soundscape was also produced using some local bush sounds, ocean sounds and the didjeridoo of Derek Nannup. The opening welcoming ceremony was performed by the Wadumbah dance group. The unveiling of the banners was well attended by a broad section of the Kwinana Medina community and representatives from the local council and local organisations. The banners were officially presented to the Medina Cultural Centre and remained on display at the Kwinana Arts Centre for two weeks. The banners will be on permanent display at the Medina Cultural Centre.

In Karawara, the Aboriginal band, Acoustic Dreaming performed the welcoming music and a large crowd of community members turned up to see the tables presented to Southcare and Yirra Yaakin. There were four contracted artists employed on the CLAIMIN’ project and one contracted musical group.

These were as follows:

• Jerry Morrison - Visual Artist
• Geoff Narkle - Visual Artist
• Jim Webb - Didjeridoo Player/Wadumbah Dance Group
• Zane Finn - Dancer
• Alice Haines - Acoustic Dreaming Group
• Fred Gesha - Acoustic Dreaming Group

Jerry Morrison was employed in the early stages of the project and Geoff Narkle completed the project. The Wadumbah dance group was employed to perform at the unveiling of the Kwinana banners and exhibition of the artwork. Acoustic Dreaming performed a similar function at the Karawara unveiling.

Patricia Riley was employed as the local community liaison officer for the project in Kwinana. Patricia was a former participant at Yirra Yaakin workshops. Patricia was responsible for community liaison and documentation.

The Yirra Yaakin staff involved in the project were as follows:

• David Milroy - Project Director
• Lynette Narkle - Project Director
• Kim Garlett -Assistant Director
• Sher Williams - Assistant Director
• Natasha Brahim - Assistant Director
• Honey Webb - Designer
• Peter Sibosado - Composer and sound Engineer
• Tammy Clarke - Admin assistant
• Paul Mac Phail - Administrator

The project was largely driven by the participants throughout the project. In addition, the assistant directors, designer and community liaison officer were all under eighteen years of age. The project changed a number of times after it’s initial conception due to initiatives from the participants.

Their initiatives resulted in: Direction given to artists in the design of the banners and tabletops. A larger display of their original artwork than originally planned. An active role in the planning of the exhibition launch which included a number of speeches by participants. Family photos taken of participants with their parents and artwork.