Presented by Voices of Women, Curious Rabbit and Wagga Wagga City Council
Wagga Wagga Art Gallery
Friday 6 December 2024
From our ancient past to the frantic now
After the triumphant Embellishment at KXT Broadway, and the award-winning international film Entanglement, Voices of Women invites audiences to immerse themselves in music and stories from Wiradjuri country on the banks of the majestic Murrumbidgee/ Marrambidya in WOMEN OF THE RIVERINA.
The show is written by the women of the region, through workshops, mentoring and community outreach and takes a leap from ancient times, through the war years, to the frantic now.
Sit by the ancient Wollundry Lagoon with Aunty Cheryl, have a drink with Wagga’s few female pub owners Selina O’Hara, grab a bargain at Best and Less with recent refugee Roz, dance with the high school ghosts of Tarcutta Hall, and remember to bottle your fruit for the national larder.
Who are the women of the Riverina? This new work chronicles the heartfelt moments, tragic past, the truth, connection and the comedy of women living in this region today. As Australia faces its ancient past through times of trauma and war, and blend in with the ‘tick tock’ of the now: this work celebrates our multicultural society, builds a picture of how we got here, and points some way to where we go next.
PROGRAM
YOUR FLIGHT IS NOT DISEMBARKING by Aunty Cheryl Penrith
WOLLUNDRY LAGOON I by Aunty Cheryl Penrith, Claudia Haines, Melanie Reeves
THE GHOSTS OF TARCUTTA MEMORIAL HALL by Imogen Rubi
BEST AND LESS by Roz Hasan
I NEVER WORRY ABOUT FALLING by Arvis Casanova
BOTTLING FRUIT and QUEEN BEE from The Agricultural Gazette of NSW, April 1944, devised by Lliane Clarke.
PEOPLE GIVE ME ROCKS by Joy Lubawy
SELINA from HerStory, a Celebration of Wagga’s Women from Early Settlement, Museum of the Riverina, Selina Maud Stockton and Margaret Ma Carmody, devised by Lliane Clarke and Saasha McMillan.
WALKING THE TIGHTROPE by Marie Clear
DEAREST MA by Haya Arzidin
EXTRAORDINARY by Eleanor Waters-Jones
I AM A RIVER by Gabrielle Tozer
WOLLUNDRY LAGOON II by Aunty Cheryl Penrith, Claudia Haines, Melanie Reeves
CAST
Sydney: Aunty Cheryl Penrith, Jessica Saras, Amelia Harding, Haya Arzidin, Lana Filies, Daisy Andrews, Aleida Toprak
Wagga Wagga: Aunty Cheryl Penrith, Jessica Saras, Haya Arzidin, Amelia Harding, Saasha McMillan,
Director: Lliane Clarke
Composer: Elizabeth Jigalin
Wollundry Choreography: Ella Havelka
Movement: Lana Filies, Lliane Clarke
Lighting Designer: Rey Baird
Stage Manager: Emily Whiting
Production Intern: Arvis Casanova
Set Builder: Oscar Clarke
Producers: Lliane Clarke, Vicki Birkinshaw, Aunty Cheryl Penrith
Assistant Producer: Haya Arzidin
WAGGA WAGGA: Generously supported by The Carla Zampatti Foundation, Wagga Wagga City Council and Regional Arts Australia, presented in collaboration with Curious Rabbit.
KXT: Generously supported by The Carla Zampatti Foundation, Eastern Riverina Arts and Wagga Wagga City Council, presented with KXT bAKEHOUSE, supported in collaboration with Curious Rabbit and Shopfront Arts Coop.
Thank you to Suzanne Miller KXT bAKEHOUSE; Natalie Rose Artistic Director Shopfront Arts Coop; Michelle Madison, Museum Curator, Museum of the Riverina Historic Council Chambers, Lee-Anne Hall and Astrid Reed Wagga Wagga Art Gallery; Lucy Heffernan, Saasha McMillan and Haya Arzidin as workshop facilitators; Milkcrate Theatre, Secret House Theatre and Barb Chmiel for props.
HOW THE SCRIPT WAS BUILT
| Women of the Riverina is a collaborative script written by artists, writers and performers in the Riverina, derived from mentorships, workshops and callouts. In 2022 we began collaborating on a series of storytelling workshops, readings and live shows on Wiradjuri Country across the region in rural halls and in Wagga Wagga Art Gallery. Through that process we encouraged women to develop confidence in writing, developing short monologues and investigating performance techniques. We collaborated with diverse groups and individual women from all communities, working with Wiradjuri Elders and creative women, Curious Rabbit arts hub for LGBTQI artists, Eastern Riverina Arts, Wagga Wagga Art Gallery community, Booranga Writers, and Multicultural Council of Wagga Wagga. In 2024 Co-Producers Lliane Clarke, Vicki Birkinshaw, Haya Arzidin and Aunty Cheryl Penrith invited women to take part in Women of the Riverina, opening submissions, running workshops and sharing storytelling through mentoring sessions. At a residency at E3 Workspace at the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, next to Wollundry Lagoon, we collaborated to develop the final script of stories. Listening, talking, learning, creating, recording, writing … incredible storytelling and making! We were blessed to work alongside Aunty Cheryl Penrith and invited to take part in the Wiradjuri Creatives Series workshop at Wagga Wagga Art Gallery. The result is a powerful script that gives voice to women of the region and to the country as a whole. |
ABOUT THE CAST
Aunty Cheryl Penrith OAM is a Wiradjuri Elder, mentor and performer with a passion for fashion. Her focus is community development and capacity building, business and strategic planning, cultural empowerment, community health and wellbeing, involvement in decision making and the revival and reinvigoration of cultural practices such as language, possum skin cloak making workshops and women’s cultural business. Cheryl appeared in the Voices of Women feature film Entanglement, was a writer and performer in Amplify in 2022 and in Embellishment at KXT Broadway in 2023.
Haya Arzidin is a writer and performer, appearing in TOME, a fully improvised show with four actors which toured to Brisbane in 2021. Working closely with the refugee community in Wagga Wagga, she co-developed Sharing Stories Sharing Place at the Wagga Civic Theatre in 2021. Haya was a writer and performer in Embellishment on tour to Wagga Wagga and Dubbo in 2023.
Daisy Andrews’ passion for dramatic arts started as a child, singing and performing to Belar Creek – to Gamilaraay Country. Coonabarabran High School supported my development through Shakespeare Festivals and both ensemble and leads in the biannual school musical. The opportunities she was given during six years in the Moorambilla Voices ensemble as a chorister, taiko player, soloist vocalist and featured contemporary dancer for tours and showcases cultivated her interested in professional performance. Since relocating to Sydney in 2018 she has enjoyed being a part of the local arts communities, including Leichhardt Espresso Chorus, Macquarie University’s Dramac and Macquarie Musical Society. She has spent the last two years developing skills in production, with multiple production and executive roles, the standouts being Producer of MacMS’ ‘The Trail to Oregon’ (2023) and President of Dramac (2024).
Lana-Marie Filies is a South African/ Australian Actor, Writer, Director, Singer, Theatre-Maker, and Choreographer who grew up on Dharawal Country and currently resides on Gadigal land. Her devised practice aims to champion female voices and create work that sparks conversation and has a social impact. She graduated from the University of Wollongong in 2018 with a Bachelor of Performance (Acting.) Lana is the Head Drama Teacher at Shopfront Arts Co-Op. She premiered ‘Hemlines’ at 2024 Sydney Fringe Festival and toured ‘Paper Planet’ with Polyglot Theatre. Lana wrote and starred in her debut play ‘Expiration Date’ (produced by Purple Tape Productions) at Adelaide Fringe (March 2023) and Meraki Arts Bar (April-May 2023).
Amelia Harding graduated from the University of Wollongong with a Bachelor in Performance and Theatre (Acting Intensive) and studied screen acting with Screenwise. She has performed in both scripted and devised pieces including Blind Naive Faith, The Golden Turtle, Scorched and Chekhov In Hell. In 2022 Amelia was a participant of the New Columbo Plan short course in Vietnam where she studied alongside students at the Hanoi Academy of Theatre and Cinema. Amelia’s recent credits include Kate Gaul’s modern adaptation of A Flea in Her Ear and Shopfront and Milk Crate Theatre’s Hello, Are You Still There? Amelia is very proud of her First Nations cultural background and her Wiradjuri grandmother.
Saasha McMillan grew up in Southern NSW, and has spent the last decade calling Wagga Wagga home. Opening Oddball Theatre in 2018, she has worked regularly with young people to foster a love of theatre and a passion for storytelling. She can be seen running classes and events in Wagga Wagga and the surrounding villages, as connecting with regional kids reflects the opportunities she had growing up in Deniliquin with Outback Theatre. She runs and hosts regular Open Mic and Improvised Theatre nights at The Curious Rabbit, has volunteered with, SoACT, Bidgee Productions, SMRF Productions and recently starred in,”The Final Sin” as part of Persona Collectives 2022 season. She is regularly involved with the regional drag and burlesque scene and is excited to tour with Cabaret Schmabaret for it’s 2023/2024 season. She was both playwright and performer in Voices of Women regional tour and workshop program ‘Embellishment’ in 2023 and Voices of Women Riverina Drama workshops tour in 2023.
Jessica Saras is a multi-faceted actor and producer, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Film Acting from Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga. Jessica has acted in several theatre, film, television and commercial productions across Australia, including Seven Network’s Home and Away and ABC’s Total Control. She is a popular fixture in many locally made short films and television projects. When she’s not acting, Jessica serves as Creative Producer with Milk Crate Theatre, a non-for-profit arts organization working in the unique intersection of the arts and social impact. Jessica has produced several main stage productions, installations, short films since 2019.
Aleida Toprak is an emerging artist, actor and theatre maker from Sydney. She has been in three shows with Shopfront Arts Co-op. Her most recent being Hello, Are You Still There, with Harness Ensemble 2024. With Young Company Ensemble, Aleida has devised and performed in their first work in 2022 and, In Between Moments in 2023. Aleida is studying a double degree at Macquarie University in Primary Education and Creative Writing/ Performing Arts.
ABOUT THE WRITERS
Arvis Casanova is a non binary 18 year old writer from Wagga Wagga. Growing up in Wiradjuri county at The Rock, they were fairly isolated, and as a result spent their free time climbing trees, exploring dirt roads and the local creek, which were some of the few places that felt safe. Arvis’ love for isolated places such as the river led them to begin writing, drawing and singing about it. Arvis attended the song makers workshop in January 2024, collaborating with other young local artists to create songs with a variety of topics and styles. They performed at Great Southern Nights, showing original songs played on their guitar. The river is a consistent source of comfort and security for Arvis, who often finds themself returning whenever life gets too overwhelming. They feel connected to the trees, cockatoos and other animals residing there. The sense of freedom and belonging is one of Arvis’ biggest inspirations, influencing most of their writing.
Claudia Haines is a proud Gamilaroi woman from Moree living on Wiradjuri Country. “I enjoy fishing, camping, painting, weaving and spending time with my family. I am a Disability Support Worker and I love helping people with their goals and ambitions. I am kind, gracious, caring, resilient, respectful and funny. I love the opportunity to paint or weave when I’m not busy with work. When I go out camping and fishing, I always acknowledge the Country I’m on and connect to Country.”
Eleanor Waters-Jones is an 18-year-old writer, performer, social activist and tutor who has lived in Wagga Wagga all her life. Ever since she can remember, she has loved storytelling, learning the art from her loved ones and practicing by writing, listening, and talking… a lot. Her first book was a complete rip-off of ‘Back to the Future’, with some blue aliens and Ron Weasley thrown in for good measure. She is inspired by the idiosyncrasies of humanity and life’s big questions. Notably, she has had a play shortlisted for SOACT’s 2024 Playfest, and has been shortlisted for the John Bell Shakespeare Scholarship. She loves writing anything and everything, from poetry, to essays, to novels. In this monologue, ‘Extraordinary’, Eleanor pays homage to the long line of women who have come before her, honouring their legacy. Eleanor completed her HSC last year with Distinguished Achievement in English. She looks forward to travelling in Europe in November, studying a Bachelor of Arts in 2025, and continuing to write!
Gabrielle Tozer is an award-winning author, freelance writer and editor based in Wagga Wagga in regional New South Wales. She is the author of eight books, including The Unexpected Mess of it All, Before We Met, Can’t Say It Went to Plan, Remind Me How This Ends and The Intern, which won the 2015 State Library of Victoria’s Gold Inky Award. Her work has been featured in anthologies including Teacher, Teacher (edited by Megan Daley) and Begin, End, Begin (edited by Danielle Binks), and centres on themes including identity, belonging, love, the complexities of friendship, mental health, grief and embracing the messiness of life. She loves sharing her passion for storytelling and creativity with readers and aspiring writers, and has worked as a mentor for the Regional Arts Network’s Horizon program, Regional Arts Australia’s Regional Scribes program and ABC’s Heywire initiative. She has also appeared at numerous literary events, including the Sydney Writers’ Festival, the Somerset Festival of Literature, StoryFest Out West, Riverina Readers Festival and the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s national conference. Gabrielle is currently writing another novel for HarperCollins and collaborating on two more picture books with the award-winning illustrator Sophie Beer.
Imogen Rubi is a performer and writer who was born and raised in Wagga Wagga, making stories all throughout her life, even when the English teacher had no more homework to give her. Imogen, currently residing in Wagga Wagga, has repeatedly fallen in love with this city through its many changes over the last two decades, regularly gushing over it. Having a love for writing, poetry and literature, as well as a passion for important topics like mental health, youth culture and women’s issues, Imogen jumped at the chance to participate in the Voices of Women workshops in 2023 and was invigorated by the experience. She has since written for the stage, touching on gender and the fluidity of identity, with her debut short play ‘The Study of Rueben March’ in the 2024 Tenx10 Play Festival.
Jody Roberts is a Widjabul woman of the Bundjalung nation who draws inspiration from her Ancestors, Mother Earth, Father Sky, and the vast realms of the natural and cosmic worlds. She approaches her creative practices with deep reverence and curiosity. Having grown up in various places around Sydney, she felt a profound calling from her soul and Ancestors to relocate to Wagga Wagga, Wiradjuri country. There, the river, stones, land, animals, and magnetic energy have become sources of healing and wisdom, deeply influencing her writing journey.
Her new spiritual home provides a reflective space where she explores the interconnectedness of all things, striving to understand her place within this grand tapestry. This introspective approach allows her to craft narratives that resonate deeply, blending personal experiences with universal truths. Her work delves into themes of identity, connection, and belonging, inviting readers to engage with the larger forces shaping their own lives. Through her writing, Jody aims to foster a deeper understanding of humanity’s relationship with the natural and cosmic realms, celebrating the profound beauty and complexity of existence.
Joy Lubawy is well known in the Riverina, as a former teacher, published academic author and singer/songwriter. She came to Wagga with her soldier husband during the Vietnam war in 1968 and took the opportunities to further her education at RCAE/RMIHE and ultimately CSU. Now she is trying her hand at writing for the stage, and this is her first (of what she hopes will be many) new works. She says she has become a miner, digging deeply into her own life for materials that might shine brightly in the footlights.
Marie Clear is a Wiradjuri woman who lives, loves and writes poetry, prose and short stories in Wagga Wagga. She is a mother, grandmother and foster mum. Marie hopes that her readers can relate and find some hope in her writings, some of which are written about domestic violence and abuse. Marie has been commended in the Sutherland Shire Literary Competition (2020), published in, The Fabian journal (2022) and the Mona magazine (2022) Booranga Anthology Four W 29,(2019) Booranga Anthology Four W 30, (2020) Booranga Anthology Four W 31, (2021) Booranga Anthology Four W 32, (2022) and Finding My Feet (Melbourne Poets Union’s Anthology 2024).
Melanie Reeves is a proud Wiradjuri woman who is a catalyst for positive change in the Murrumbidgee health landscape with over ten years’ experience in strategic planning and management. She is passionate about advancing patient centred care in regional and remote communities. She is excited to be exploring her development as a writer, guest speaker, MC and performer.
Roz Hasan came to Wagga Wagga in November 2016 as a refugee, and has embraced the opportunities available in this welcoming community. Currently in Year 12 at Wagga Wagga High School, she is inspired by the transformative power of education and the supportive environment of the community. This journey from a refugee to a citizen in a vibrant town like Wagga Wagga has been one of resilience and hope. Writing serves as a powerful outlet for Roz to express her unique experiences and aspirations. The challenges faced as a refugee, coupled with the support from the community, fuel a passion for storytelling and sharing personal narratives..
Although still a high school student, the Roz’s primary qualification is their lived experience and the determination to use words to bridge gaps and foster understanding. The writer’s connection to Wagga Wagga and the diverse community within it continues to inspire a loyal commitment to personal and academic growth.
DIRECTOR
Lliane Clarke is the Artistic Director of Voices of Women which she created and has directed since 2018. With a passion for the written and spoken word, she is a journalist, published author, producer and director, communications and marketing consultant in the performing arts, and author mentor in commercial publishing and creative programs. Since 2020, she has directed community workshop programs focussing on women’s stories across regional NSW, in Australia and in the US. She directed the feature film CLEARWAY (CORONA) in 2020, the award-winning feature film Entanglement in 2021, shown around the world in film festivals, including at The United Nations Womens Conference in Rwanda and screened on SBS and NITV in 2024, and the short films Our Mob, Invisibility, The Dress and Sun in My Bones in 2021. In 2022 she was awarded the Carla Zampatti Arts and Culture Medal from Multicultural NSW for the Entanglement program. She has created collaborative scripts for live shows since 2018, including regional tours of Amplify in 2022, Entanglement Live in 2023, and Embellishment in 2023 at KXT Broadway in Sydney in 2023.
COMPOSER AND SOUND DESIGNER
Elizabeth Jigalin’s music has been premiered at festivals around the world including Gaudeamus Muziekweek, Extended Play, Darmstadt, BIFEM, Rouse Hills Psychedelia, Percussive Arts Society International Convention, Women of Noise and Australia’s Silent Film Festival. At present, she is Composer-in-Residence for Voices of Women, including composing the film score for the award-winning Entanglement film, and Moorambilla Voices program in 2023 and 2024. She has been an Artist-in-Residence at Sydney Youth Orchestras, Bundanon Trust, Campbelltown Arts Centre and Bondi Pavillion. Previously, her music and ideas have been brought to life by a variety of performers and commissioners including Biennale of Sydney, Inner West Voices, Vanessa Tomlinson, Will Hansen, Jane Aubourg, Ensemble Offspring, Soundstream, Screen Dive, Lost in Books and FBI’s All the Best.
Elizabeth is the founder of creative music collective the music box project who were awarded Excellence for Experimental Music at the 2020 APRA AMCOS/AMC Art Music Awards for shallow listening. Elizabeth was the co-festival director of the music box project’s inaugural festival CUT PASTE PLAY – featuring over 25 artists from across Australia and abroad.
Elizabeth is grateful to be the recipient of several awards including 2023 APRA/AMCOS Art Music Fund, Ars Musica Australis Scholarship, AAO Mentorship, 1st Prize Centenary of Canberra Composition Competition and 1st Prize Unbound Flute Festival competition. In 2022, Elizabeth was a finalist in the APRA Professional Development awards.
LIGHTING DESIGNER
Rey Baird has a strong arts and design background, with a Bachelor Degree in Design for Stage and Screen at Charles Sturt University and Costume Design at AFTRS. They are a freelance designer for Reyconstructs, and have been Production Designer for the short films: “INSENTIENT” Directed by Brooke Joyner and Jordan Johnston “RUN” Directed by Brooke Joyner and Geraldine Cutler “Bookclub” Directed by Nathan Morris and Annie Cartwright “Our Dad” Directed by Nathan Morris and Keeden Hendriks and “A Singular Wave” Directed by Nathan Morris.
STAGE MANAGER (KXT)
Emily Whiting is an ArtsLab Resident Artist at Shopfront Arts Coop, studying Theatre and Performance at the University of Sydney in her Bachelor of Arts degree. She is an active member of the Sydney University Dramatic Society (SUDS) as a Stage Manager in Double O’ Bill: Inspector Hound & Bald Soprano, Play On and Eurydice. She also acted in Slot 3 How Will I Know?, Saphically Challenged staged reading. Outside of her studies she involves herself in volunteering at Belvoir Theatre and was a Griffin Theatre Ambassador in 2022. She is also a proud member of the ATYP Youth Advisory board (YABbies) for 2023. She looks forward to more opportunities in the future to work on her craft.
PRODUCTION INTERN
Arvis Casanova is from Wagga Wagga and is a non binary 18 year old writer exploring her skills in theatre production. Growing up in Wiradjuri county at The Rock, they were fairly isolated, and as a result spent their free time climbing trees, exploring dirt roads and the local creek, which were some of the few places that felt safe.
Arvis attended the North Wagga Wagga Voices of Women workshop in 2023 and began exploring their skills in production. They attended song makers workshop in January 2024, collaborating with other young local artists to create songs with a variety of topics and styles. They performed at Great Southern Nights, showing original songs played on their guitar. They look forward to being a part of the Women of the Riverina production crew.