Review: Gunawarra Re-creation at Southbank Theatre

Review by Greg Gorton

Gunawarra Re-creation is a powerful piece of theatre, with stunning visuals, an incredible cast, and a story that deserves to be repeated time and again. I unfortunately missed its original production as part of the 2024 Blak in the Room season, and I urge you to not miss this latest iteration before it too moves on.

Isobel Morphy-Walsh, a Taun Wurrung woman, has taken the story of Gunawarra, the black swan, and highlighted one of its many complex themes by wrapping it in a story of a family dealing with trauma both shared and kept secret. Roo and Murrun, mother and daughter, are mourning the loss of their Aunty Aggie. Under her instructions, they return to a waterhole with deep connections both as women of country and as women with personal histories in that place. Forced to face the story of Gunawarra, and their own trauma, they hope to find a way out of their anger and sadness.

While I walked in knowing at least some version of the “black swan story”, this is not a pre-requisite. In a brilliant piece of writing, it is given to use three times, each evolution offering us new insights (just as it does each time we hear it from others around this beautiful country).

The stage (designed by Dann Barber) is initially a powerful image. A large, slanted wooden platform makes a useful stage while evoking a log beside the water. Above it sits a round screen, with a projected “almost moon”, which is used at times to present haunting charcoal animations. At the edge of the stage, in the dark, are reeds. It is Barber, too, who designed the incredible bird costume which augments the incredible physical performance by Hannah Morphy-Walsh.

The actors who make up this cast are beyond talented. Morphy-Walsh’s physical performance has an quirky and endearing chemistry with Miela Anich’s Murrun. Anich’s performance only serves to strengthen her reputation as one of the few must-watch actors Melbourne has today. Lisa Maza’s Aunty Aggie is sadly not a character that experiences too much a story herself, but as a charismatic elder who can be trusted implicitly, she shines. Melodie Reynolds-Diarra is transformative as the younger and older Roo, brilliantly portraying that same woman at very different times in her life.

The story of Gunawarra Re-creation is a beautiful piece of universal story-telling, a multi-generational tale of trauma and healing. More than that, though, it takes an honest and emotional look at the specific traumas that have faced our first nations women since the time of colonisation, and asks us to not simply ignore or shrug off these realities. In some ways it is a dark piece but, ultimately, this is an uplifting piece of art, highlighting the strength we have when we are part of something bigger.

It may seem a little like some pieces of the script do not work as well as others, with occasional lines being quite Shakespearean, and one particular scene being a little too expositional. This may, however, be a creative move to dissolve the world of reality and story-telling together.

There are some wonderful additions to the dialogue of the script, with every dance and song being powerful additions to the work. The use of an actor as Gunawarra is surprisingly effective in this very adult piece, and the aforementioned animations were also welcome. I was less convinced by the consistently rotating stage, though that may come from a place of exhaustion with the conceit.

One of the key factors I consider when looking at theatre that explores naturalistic stories of a personal nature is “Do I feel like it’s taboo to be watching this?” The feeling I mean is somewhat akin to the one when the couple opposite you on the train is arguing, or feeling each other up. Yes, I came to watch theatre, but for a moment I feel like I’m watching two real people who will continue on being real when the lights go up and the actors leave the stage. This happened to me tonight, during a heart-wrenching monologue by Miela Anich - one last retelling of Gunawarra, one that says so much more.

Ilbijerri Theatre’s production of Gunawarra Re-creation is a most powerful piece of theatre, a confrontation and education, and an experience that will stay with you for a long time.

Image Supplied