A First Nations music and theatre work will bring stories of identity, memory and cultural inheritance to Kingston Butter Factory during National Reconciliation Week.
The timing of the production holds local significance in Logan, where more than 14,500 residents identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander in the 2021 Census.
Inheritance, created and performed by Toni Janke, will be staged at the Kingston venue on at 10.30am on Thursday, 28 May and at 7pm on Saturday, 30 May.
National Reconciliation Week runs from 27 May to 3 June each year, marking the anniversaries of the 1967 referendum and the High Court’s Mabo decision.
This year’s theme is “All In”, which Reconciliation Australia says calls on Australians to commit to reconciliation every day.
Logan Arts says Inheritance is being presented in recognition of National Reconciliation Week, inviting reflection, understanding and shared stories.
The production combines original music, storytelling and lived experience, exploring what people inherit and what they choose to pass on.
Janke said song and story were central to the work.
“When I was growing up, singing and storytelling were such an important part of our culture,” she said in material published by QPAC.
“While spoken word can convey truth, music and song captivates the spirit.
“Together they weave memory, history, and emotion into something that you don’t just hear – but you actually feel and experience.”
Logan City Council’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Plan says Logan should provide opportunities for First Nations-led truth-telling and celebrate First Nations stories, languages and collections.
The plan also commits to supporting First Nations-led storytelling and cultural practice.
The Kingston performances will feature musicians Nicole Perry, Caz Higgs and Kevin Haigh, actors Zalika Bani-Ghee and Emily Reid, and First Nations dancers Tjilala Brown-Roberts and Harold Pascoe.
The production also features choreography by Jeanette Fabila.
Logan Arts lists the production as suitable for audiences aged 12 and over, with audience advisories for difficult themes and cultural content.
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