YirraYaakinTheatreCompany–180HamersleyRoadSubiacoWA6008T:+61893803040|E:marketing@yirrayaakin.com.au|W:www.yirrayaakin.com.au

SistaGirlMarketingkit

Version:1September2017

1 Approvals........................................................2

2 Promotionalmaterialsummary.......................2

3 Performancehistory........................................2

4 Shortdescription.............................................3

5 Longerdescription...........................................3

6 Quotations......................................................3

7 Video...............................................................3

8 Images.............................................................4

9 Director’snotesbyKyleJMorrison..................4

10 Writer’snotes...............................................5

11 Companyinformation...................................5

12 Creativecredits.............................................5

13 Partnercredits...............................................6

14 Fundingpartnerlogos....................................6

15 Biographies...................................................7

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1 ApprovalsPleasenoteallmarketingmaterialsincludingprint(posters,flyers,pressadvertising),broadcast(TV,YouTubeandradioads)anddigital(website,emails)requireapprovalbeforebeingpublishedorsenttoprint.

Approvalsshouldbesenttothemarketingcontactaslistedbelow.Pleaseallowa48-hourturnaroundonallapprovals.

2 PromotionalmaterialsummaryUsethisasaquickguidewhencreatingmarketingmaterials.Youwillfindmoredetailaboutthisproductionthroughoutthismarketingkit.

PresentationLine:….,StateTheatreCompanyofSouthAustralia&YirraYaakinTheatreCompanypresentsShowtitle: SistaGirlRequiredacknowledgments:ToursupportedbyYirraYaakinTheatreCompany,theAustralianGovernmentthroughtheAustraliaCouncil,itsartsfundingandadvisorybodytheWesternAustralianGovernmentthroughtheDepartmentofCultureandtheArts.Runningtime: 70minutesGenre: ContemporaryAboriginal Rating: Over15:Somecourse

languageandadultthemes

3 PerformancehistorySistaGirlwasfirstpresentedbyStateTheatreCompanyofSouthAustralia&YirraYaakinTheatreCompanyattheSpaceTheatre,AdelaideandaregionaltourinSouthAustraliainMay&June2017.SistaGirlhelditsfirstWesternAustralianpresentationattheMainTheatre,SubiacoArtsCentreinPerth,inAugust2017.2017RubyAwardFinalist,intheCommunityorRegionalImpactunder$100,000category.

YirraYaakinTheatreCompany–180HamersleyRoadSubiacoWA6008T:+61893803040|E:marketing@yirrayaakin.com.au|W:www.yirrayaakin.com.au

4 ShortdescriptionSistaGirlisabrandnewAustralianwork,co-writtenbyElenaCarapetisandAlexisWest.Twohalf-sisters(AFirstNationswomanandanItalian-Australianwoman)meetafterthedeathoftheirfather,inanexplorationoftherelationshipbetweenAboriginalandnon-AboriginalmigrantAustralians.

5 Longerdescription

Araucousandpowerfullookatoursearchforidentity.Twoyoungwomenmeetfacetofaceforthefirsttimeacrossthebedofadyingman.Strangerstoeachotherbutbondedbybloodandgrief.Sisters.Theybreakthecoldsilenceofthehospitalroomtostartadifficultconversation.Aboutthepastandsecrets.Aboutthewomenwhoweretheirmothers.Andaboutwhythisman,theirfather,abandonedonefamilytomakeanother.Whenthepastisdyingandcan’tsaysorry,howdoyoumoveon?

SistaGirlisanexplorationoftherelationshipbetweenAboriginalandnon-AboriginalAustralians,viathestoryoftwowomenwhoshareawhitefather.Co-writtenbyElenaCarapetis(Gorgon)andAlexisWest(Echoes….ofKnowingHome),theplaywillspeakdirectlytoaudiencesaboutquestionsofidentity,griefandthecomplexnatureoffamily. QuotationsReviews:Itisadeftlyunderstatedperformance,richinwrycomedyandyearningforlostconnections.TheAustralian

Tracksuit-wearingGeorgie,playedbyNadiaRossi,regalesuswithoutrageouslycomicalItalian-Australianobservationsandquickone-linersaboutherfellowbustravellerswhilerevealingastrongsenseoffamilyandgenerosityofspiritbeneathhersassy,sociallystrugglingexterior.TheAdvertiser

It’sonenottobemissed.InDaily

SteppingintotheroleofNakishaatshortnotice,SharniMcDermottiswonderfullyebullientandseeminglyconfidentasshestraddlesthelinebetweenblackandwhitesocieties,givingbothahealthyserveassheracestobusinessmeetingsinherflashBMW.TheAdvertiser

Brilliantlyhumorous,tear-jerkingandheart-warmingproduction.GlamAdelaide

6 VideoPromotionalVideoOne:https://youtu.be/8UrV0is0zj4PromotionalVideoTwo:https://youtu.be/tFRO2y75yTwOpeningnightvoxpops:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNYnP6kXPlM

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7 ImagesHigh-resolutionREHEARSALimagesbyphotographerKatePardeyavailablefordownloadingfromourDropboxsite:https://www.dropbox.com/sh/okye494m8f5e0q1/AAAEEEuuFtCIDCaKAl3eju3Ya?dl=0High-resolutionPRODUCTIONimagesbyphotographerKatePardeyavailablefordownloadingfromourDropboxsite:https://www.dropbox.com/sh/t3w2yl82nvnvdse/AAB2ZpOSxTUPpJcv5fVuOy64a?dl=0

8 FromTheArtisticDirectorsbyGeordieBrookman&KyleJMorrisonSistaGirl is the firstproject inanewpartnershipbetweenStateTheatreCompanySouthAustraliaandYirraYaakinTheatreCompany inPerth.As creative leaders inourowncitiesYirraYaakinandState Theatre Company have a shared vision for a stronger program of culturally diverse worksthrough a jointly held idea of cultural competency that will see more politically relevant andculturallysafetheatrereachawideraudience.Acreativeandculturalpartnershipthatwillseebothcompanies grow over the coming years focusing on an investment into Aboriginal and TorresStraight Islander people as artists and audiences to bring to our stages a shared narrative of thisdiversecountry.This isanexcitingpartnership thatwill seeSouthAustraliaandWesternAustralialeadthecountryinthenextevolutionofoursharedtheatricalnarrative.

9 Writers’NotesbyElenaCarapetisMygrandparentsescapedwarandpovertytocometoAustraliaforabetterlife.Theyenduredeveryimaginableobstaclewhentheyarrivedbutwerevictoriousintheirstruggles.Theyweremodelcitizensandtheirdescendantshavecontributedagreatdealtosociety.Iwonderwhatthey’dsaytome,myancestors,nowthatabloodierstoryofAustraliahasemerged–becausemymother’sbirthplacewasalsoinvadedillegally.WhathashappenedtotheFirstNationspeopleofthisgloriouslandleavesmeunsureofhowwewillevermovepasttheshadowofourdarksharedhistory.SistaGirlisametaphorforthesadnessweallcarrysomewhereinourbonesforourbigdysfunctionalAustralianfamilyandthebelongingweallseek.IthasbeenanhonourtomakethisworkwithAlexisWestwhohasbeenexemplaryinhergenerosity,wisdomandstrength.Mythanks,loveandrespecttoher,toouramazingcastandcreativeteam,allatStateTheatreCompany,YirraYaakinandPlaywritingAustralia,tomybeautifulfamilyandtoyou,ourbelovedaudience.Mayweallbehealed.

10 Writers’NotesbyAlexisWestHavingtheexperienceofbeingadoptedoutandgrowingupinapredominantlywhitefamilyinpredominantlywhitesocietysomepeoplemaycallmyraisingas‘privileged’.I’vehadamostlygoodupbringingwithparentswholovedmeevenwhentheydidn’tknowhowtorelatetome.ThestruggleofbeingablackwomaninwhiteAustraliahasconstantlyleftmeriddledwithconfusionandguilt.Bothasenseofisolationandlongingtobelonghasdrivenmyjourneyandbeenasourceofinspirationinallofmywritings.SistaGirlisanattemptatanunflinchingexplorationoftwoAustralianwomen,sisters,oneAboriginalandoneItalian,whoseuniqueperspectivesofbeing‘other’inawhitepatriarchalworldisboughttoanapexonJanuary26thwhentheycometogetherastheirwhitefatherdies.Thesenseofisolation,discrimination,self-loathing,guiltandthehopeofacceptancethatbothwomenexperienceis,Ihope,reflectedintheplay.Utilizingthegiftandopportunitytoco-writewiththe

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talentedanddeepElenaCarapetishasbeenaremarkableexpeditionofself-discovery,forgivenessandhealing.

11 Director’snotesbyKyleJMorrisonWhatagencyisaffordedtothewomenofourworld,especiallyourwomenofcolourandwomenofdiverseethnicitywhenmaleprivilegeisallpervasive?When I first heard about this project I was immediately interested. The idea of having a sharednarrativebetweentworarelyheard femalevoicesonourmainstages isan ideaweall shouldgetusedto.ElenaCarapetisandAlexisWestarethevoicesofanexcitingfutureofmoregenderequalityandculturallydiversetheatreforournationalaudiencesthatwillseeourcountrygrow.This istheworldIwanttohearmoreof,thestoriesofourwomenthathaveinherited60000+yearsofculturalandspiritualheritageandthetraumaofournationalhistoryalongsidethestoriesfromoursistersthat inherit the cultures and also the trauma of thewomen that immigrated here fromwar tornEurope. Words like reconciliation and recognition are just rhetoric without the humanunderstandingofeachotherintheprocess.Howcanwegrowtogetherinawiderconceptofnationwithoutthehonestconversationofwhoweare,wherewecomefromandhowweallfeelaboutournationalnarrative.SistaGirl isthestoryofmodernAustraliathatIwanttohear,andworkingwithsuchastrongteamofskilledandgenerousartistsgivesmeaconfidentimageofourartisticfutureasacountry.DevelopingthedesignideaswithMirandaHamptonandthenmaterialisingtheworldofthe characters with enigmatic actors NatashaWanganeen and Nadia Rossi has been an absolutehonour. I have learned a lot to say the least. Sista Girl is asking hard questions about culture,heritage, gender and family and ultimately;what is “success” in the constant struggle to balancethesethemes.

12 Companyinformation-YirraYaakinTheatreCompany

Yirra Yaakin (Yir-raarh Yaarh-kin] whichmeans “Stand Tall” in Noongar language, is based in theheartoftheNoongarNation–adistinctAboriginalculturalgroupfromthesouth-westofWesternAustralia.YirraYaakinisAustralia’slargestAboriginal-ledtheatrecompanyandhasbeenproducingandpresentinganannualprogramofqualitycontemporaryAboriginaltheatresince1993.YirraYaakinTheatreCompanyhavecreatedalastingcontributiontothepeopleofWesternAustraliaproducingandpresentingworld-classtheatrethatisbothentertainingandeducational.Overthepast twenty-fouryearsYirraYaakinhaswon30awards;deliveredover1,000workshops;performed900shows;undertaken50tours;commissionedover50newAustralianworks;employedover 400 Aboriginal Arts workers; facilitated 45,000Workshop Participants; and our shows havebeen seen by over 400,000 audience members. Internationally Yirra Yaakin has toured to sixcontinentsand13countries,andhasbeeninvolvedin31internationalevents.YirraYaakinhaswonawards includingBestOverallPartnership in theStateBusinessArtsAwards,Excellence in Community Partnerships, the Prince of Wales Trophy for Outstanding CommunityServiceandtheIndigenousFacilitatorsPrizeattheSidneyMyerAwards.The Company is passionately committed to producing and presenting amixture of contemporaryand classic Aboriginal theatre, balanced with our existing community service and educationprograms.

“…YirraYaakinismyfavouritetheatrecompanyanywhere.”JohnKinsella,TheAustralian

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13 Companyinformation-StateTheatreCompanySouthAustraliaStateTheatreCompanySouthAustraliaisthestate’sflagshipprofessionaltheatrecompanyperforminganannualseasonofclassicandcontemporaryAustralianandinternationaltheatreworksatitsmainperformancehome–theDunstanPlayhouse.TheCompanyisamajorcommunityandculturalresourceforallSouthAustraliansandisvitaltoartisticlifeinthestate.StateTheatreCompanyalsoplaysanimportantroleinthebiggerpictureoftheAustraliantheatrescene,contributingtouringproductionsandprovidingemploymentandcareeropportunitiesforartistsandtechnicalandadministrativestaff.WearecommittedtothedevelopmentofnewworksforthestageandtothedevelopmentofSouthAustralianartiststhroughourcreativefellowshipprograms.ThedateofestablishmentasthestatetheatrecompanydatestotheStateTheatreCompanyofSouthAustraliaActof1972,aninitiativeofDonDunstan.Throughoutour40yearhistory,theCompanyhasplayedapivotalroleinthecareersofmanyofAustralia’sleadingactors,writersanddirectors,attractingartistsofthecalibreofMiriamMargolyes,XavierSamuel,NeilArmfield,RuthCracknell,JudyDavis,GaleEdwards,MelGibson,GarryMcDonald,GeoffreyRush,JimSharman,HugoWeaving,JackiWeaverandJohnWood.

14 CreativecreditsWrittenby:ElenaCarapetis&AlexisWestDirector:KyleJMorrisonStarring:NadiaRossi&SharniMcDermottDesigner:MirandaHamptonLightingDesigner:RickWooringhamComposer&SoundDesigner:AndrewHowardDramaturg:NickiBloomStageManager:RebeccaDavisAssistantStageManager:AliraMcKenzie-WilliamsCOSTUMESMADEBYSTATETHEATRECOMPANYWARDROBE.SETMADEBYSTATETHEATRECOMPANYWORKSHOP.

15 PartnercreditsProgrammustincludethesecredits:

YirraYaakinTheatreCompanygratefullyacknowledgesthesupportof:- theAustralianGovernmentthroughtheAustraliaCouncil,itsartsfundingandadvisorybody- theWesternAustralianGovernmentthroughtheDepartmentofCultureandtheArts- andDevelopmentPartner,Woodside.

16 FundingpartnerlogosProgrammustincludethelogosofourfunding&projectpartners:

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Highresolutionversionsoftheselogoscanbedownloadhere:https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hnut5y6a634bnn8/AABGsA6UAaiXQ9UkkJw9dy7aa?dl=0

17 BiographiesDIRECTORBIOGRAPHY

KyleJMorrison—DirectorKyleJMorrisonhasbeenworkinginthetheatreindustryinWesternAustraliaasanactorfor24years,workingforsuchtheatrecompaniesasBlackSwan(WaitingforGodot1993),DeckchairTheatre(KingForThisPlace1999,JimmyandPatMeetTheQueen2000&Wonderlands2007),BarkingGecko(Amy’sMonster2000&OwnWorstEnemy2001)andYirraYaakin(KingHit1999,BooyiKooraKoora1999,DjillDjitt2000,InsideOut2001,OneDayin672004,Warloo2005,InTheNyittingTime2006,MuttacarSorryBusiness2001-2005).In2008KylewastheassistantdirectoronSydneyTheatreCompany’sproductionofRomeo&Juliet,FemaleOfTheSpecies,writtenbyJoannaMurrayforBlackSwanTheatreCompanyandYibbiyungbyDallasWinmarforCompanyBBelvoir.ProductionsdirectedbyKyleJMorrisonforYirraYaakininclude:MuttacarSorryBusiness(2007-2010),InTheNyittingTime(2008),GoodLovin(2009-2010),HoneySpot(2010),Mother’sTongue(2010)KaarlaKaatijin(2010-2012),TheCakeMan(2013),KingHit(2014),TheFeverandTheFret(2015)andSoLongSuckers(2016)whichhealsoco-created.KyleiscurrentlytheArtisticDirectorofYirraYaakinTheatreCompany.CASTBIOGRAPHIESNadiaRossi—GeorgieMorelliNadiaRossicompletedaBachelorofCreativeArts(HONS)fromFlindersUniversityDramaCentreandisafoundingmemberofawardwinningtheatrecompanyisthisyours?.Nadia’sStateTheatreCompanytheatrecreditsincludeThreeSistersandTheMemoryofWater.ForWindmillTheatre,shehastouredextensivelybothnationallyandinternationallywithPlop!,CatandTheGreenSheep.ForTheBorderProject;IAmNotAnAnimal.Foristhisyours?;MakeMeHonestMakeMeWeddingCake(AdelaideFestivalCentreinSPACEDevelopmentAward,AdelaideFringe2009),BestWeForgetandYouWannaTalkAboutIt(MelbourneFringeTourReadyAward2014).FilmCreditsincludeTheSwimmingLessonandDriveBy.FutureworksincludeAngeliquewithisthisyours?,presentedbyInsiteArtsandTheAdelaideFestivalCentre.SharniMcDermott—NakishaGreySharniisanactor,singer,dancerandgraduateofTheAboriginalCentreforthePerformingArts(ACPA)2010.DuringhertimeatACPAsheworkedcloselyunderthedirectionofLeahPurcell.Sharni’screditsinclude:ParramattaGirls(RiversideProductions),Saltbush(InsiteArts),Songrites(DevelopmentforPWAandSOH),TheVoicesProject–BetweenStolen(SydneyTheatreCompany),TheRockLow,SoulMusic,X-Stacy,MiraclesinBrisbane,AMidsummerNight’sDreamtime,Reflections,I’mOnly40YearsOldandEquus.SharnisangtheNationalAnthemforopeningofthe2011IndigenousAllStars’FootballMatch,aswellasbeingaleadsingerattheNationalNAIDOCBall.SheperformedatboththeDeadlyAwards,andtheOpeningCeremonyofTheBrisbaneFestivalandmostrecentlyattheYellamundeNationalFirstPeoples’PlaywritingFestival.

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