Broome theatre show a cut above
Broome's Marrugeku Theatre has sniffed a serious change in the weather in its new show Cut the Sky.
The dance-theatre production, dubbed a "ghost-musical" by Marrugeku directors Dalisa Pigram and Rachael Swain, blends rock music, indigenous singing, circus, video art and poetry and scenes set in the distant future to explore climate change from an Aboriginal perspective.
Swain said the world premiere of Cut the Sky celebrated the anniversary of Marrugeku's formation in 1994 to produce the stilt-dancing show Mimi for the Perth Festival.
"It is amazing to come back in the company's 21st birthday year to the Perth Festival and go through a similar trial by fire with an ambitious work," she said. "It is massive pressure getting a show up in competition with shows that have been in a repertoire for years of international touring.
"But arts festival audiences are open to looking at things in a slightly different way."
Marrugeku is based in the Kimberley and has established strong international networks as WA cultural ambassadors. Set to tour to Europe this year, Cut the Sky features artists, dancers and musicians from the Kimberley, India, Papua New Guinea, Belgium and West Africa.
Pigram said it tackled heavy issues in an entertaining way.
"It is visually beautiful to watch," she said.
Cut the Sky is at the Regal Theatre from tonight to Sunday.
