New Indigenous work needs help to grow from ‘Dreamtime’ into Reality

In an exciting and innovative initiative to create new indigenous works, Sydney Festival is setting out to raise $300,000 for the development and staging of one of the centrepieces of the 2012 program, I Am Eora.

I Am Eora is a theatre/music/film event that tells the stories of Sydney’s Aboriginal cultural continuity, celebrating its heroes and embracing the sacred heart of our city. Directed by Wesley Enoch, with its World Premiere at CarriageWorks in January 2012, the show will feature an extraordinary group of 30 Aboriginal creative artists and performers from around Sydney and Australia.

I Am Eora is inspired by three real people who have taken on mythical status: the fierce warrior Pemulwuy and the spirit of resistance; the determined woman Barangaroo and the spirit of a people united; and finally, the interpreter Bennelong and the spirit of reconciliation.

One of the most challenging and vital commitments Sydney Festival makes each year is to the development and presentation of new Australian works.

Over the decades this has created an enduring legacy of iconic Australian theatre works from Cloudstreet to Smoke & Mirrors. For Australian theatre artists a World Premiere season at Sydney Festival is a powerful international showcase.

Sydney Festival has put the call out for 60 Associate Producers to contribute $5,000 each. The 60 Associate Producers, whether they be 60 individuals, a family, a business or a circle of friends, will become part of I Am Eora’s treasured team of Producers, with behind-the-scenes insights and select opportunities as the production comes to fruition.

I Am Eora will leave a lasting legacy upon which emerging Aboriginal artists can build for future creative projects: creative partnerships forged, new material and performance skills developed, new talent discovered and established voices celebrated.

The Associate Producers will be invited to be involved in the creative development of the project, meet the artists, be welcomed to the World Premiere, and have their generosity acknowledged in various ways throughout the Festival.

Sydney Festival is a non-profit organisation with DGR status. Each contribution is fully tax deductible.

If you/your business or anyone you know would be willing to support this new theatrical initiative, contact info@aussietheatre.com for more information.

Also visit: www.sydneyfestival.org.au