Bangarra Dance Theatre has premiered their newest work for children at this year’s Brisbane Festival, The Bogong’s Song: a call to Country. This fun and engaging story takes audiences on an adventure for connection and culture. With a mix of stunning shadow puppetry, dance, singing and beautiful visual displays, there is never a dull moment.
Australia’s leading Indigenous performing arts company, Bangarra Dance Theatre, is once again amazing Brisbane families with their meaningful storytelling. This follows the resounding success of their first show for children, the award-winning Waru: Journey of a Small Turtle, which enthralled over 25,000 youngsters last year. They skilfully share big ideas about Indigenous experiences and perspectives through stories and characters that delight children, from turtles to other bush critters.
This show is named after and inspired by the fascinating Bogong moths, which are known to use the stars to direct them in their annual migration. Constantly confused by the city lights, they tend to stray off course, much like our two main characters.
Siblings Beau (Benjin Maza) and Myee (Tjilala Brown-Roberts) are your typical internet-addicted teens. After being separated from their little brother Joey, the pair struggles with how much they miss him. But when they awake in the world of the Bogong’s dreaming, they are tasked with finding a missing moth and end up learning a whole lot more.
On this adventure, they meet charming new friends, including a kind possum and a cool lizard, who encourage the kids to connect with their roots.
Performers Benjin Maza and Tjilala Brown-Roberts are multi-talented superstars! Their energetic and springy portrayals of the show’s creative cast of characters are incredibly amusing and heartwarming.
Maza’s expert comedic timing and liveliness will tickle a laugh out of every audience member. Co-star Brown-Roberts knows how to work a crowd and playfully encourages interaction that makes spectators feel like a part of the show.
Co-writers Yolande Brown and Chenoa Deemal present a dreamy story that captivates from start to finish. Their script brings to life the experience of connection to Country and invites audiences to listen, reflect and wonder at the environment around them.
Brown also directs and choreographs The Bogong’s Song with her unique style that is impossible to look away from. She creates a performance filled with movement that flows seamlessly from scene to scene.
Bangarra Dance Theatre is famous for its impeccable dancers, and Brown’s choreography excels that reputation. Even set to the robotic sound of Apple’s Siri, the performers’ coordination and full use of their bodies is hypnotising. Brown cleverly elevates the script into an interpretive dance wonder.
The Bogong’s Song: a call to Country is the perfect school holiday activity for kids. Don’t miss the chance to explore the Bogong’s Dreaming and enter into a magical world of nature and connection.
The Bogong’s Song: a call to Country runs to 4 October at the Cremorne Theatre, QPAC as part of 2025 Brisbane Festival.
It then tours Sydney from 8 – 19 October at The Studio, Bangarra Dance Theatre.
Tickets: https://www.brisbanefestival.com.au/events/the-bogongs-song
Website: https://www.bangarra.com.au/productions/the-bogongs-song/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/bangarradancetheatre/
Photo credits: Daniel Boud
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