The opening night of ‘Arawarra’ at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre saw a sold-out theatre and a standing ovation for the brilliant work and performance of Jake Māra.
‘Arawarra’ tells the story of a First Nations leader and hero of the South Coast, at the time of colonisation. This is the legacy left behind from a prominent figure who was erased from the history books, and it is a story that everyone should be told, especially if you’re from the Illawarra and South Coast.
It’s not often that one person can command a room for an hour with two props and stagnant set of a table and chairs, some boxes and a teacup, but Jake Māra did exactly that. He had the entire audience enthralled in his performance. It was captivating like nothing else. Māra’s storytelling was simple and beautiful, filled with soul and just outstanding. He embodied each character with such grace and ease that it was easy to forget that he was the only one on stage. The story itself was woven through the voice of his uncle, Arawarra himself, and his ancestors. Whether he was sat at the kitchen table, or commentating and dissecting moments from history, it felt just like a friend sitting down and talking about their life. It was warm and inviting and had the audience laughing and sympathising throughout. I have found it to be quite rare to have a gift like that, scripted or not. I simply cannot praise this performance and this story enough.
Technically it was stunning. The use of lighting and occasional images across the cyc (the white curtain at the back of the stage) at pivotal moments was just perfect. Red lighting flashes in time with swift acts of violence, the black and white image of the sacred mountain, displaying the handwritten words of Alexander Berry, all of it was simple and yet, so incredibly effective. It’s easy to be lost in amongst sound and lighting, particularly when it is just one person, but the creative team found the exact balance to do this so well.
I really enjoyed the mix of native language and English that was so seamlessly used throughout the performance. Even if you did not know the language, you could still understand what was happening within the story. The emotion and the characterisation took you through each moment the same way it does watching an opera in a foreign tongue.
This is not a show you should miss. Thankyou to Lincoln Smith and Jake Māra for bringing this story onto the stage and sharing this piece of history and culture with us. You should be incredibly proud of what you have created.
Arawarra has now sold out, but keep any eye out for any repeat performances in your area.
Photographer: Tracey Leigh Images
