Preview by Lynda Hansen
The Marrugeku Company was created specifically to produce Mimi in which performers from the Stalker Theatre Company, indigenous dancers and musicians from Western Australia, and Aboriginal dancers, musicians and painters from the Kunwinjku tribe of western Arnhem Land collaborate.
In 1994 and 1995, members of the Stalker company and the performers from WA travelled to the Kunbarllanjnja community in Arnhem Land, where the traditional owners of the Mimi stories live. Kunwinjku elders gave permission for a re-interpretation and re-telling of the stories in cross-cultural performance form. They also gave the name Marrugeku, which means "clever people", to the newly formed company. To the Kunwinjku, the clever people are humans who communicate with the spirit world.
The Mimi, represented as stilt-walkers, are spirit people. They came from where the sun rises and live in the rocky escarpment of western Arnhem Land. They taught the old people important laws, and were known to visit artists and musicians through dreams, giving inspiration for a song cycle and instruction to an artist.
The Yawk Yawk are the water spirits from the western and northern Arnhem creek holes on the flood plains. They are mermaids: half women, half fish. Traditionally they live in trees by the rivers. They are the daughters of Ngyalod, the rainbow serpent responsible for much of the creation of the earth, and who controls the rain and wind. Namorrohol is a dark spirit, large and fearsome, who seeks out the weak and dying to steal their souls.
In the performance, the Mimi and the Binninj (Aboriginal people) travel together during a single night, portraying significant events since the time of the great creator beings.
The Mimi and the Binninj reconcile the difference between the human and spirit worlds. The Mimi track for food on their night's journey, drifting into the fresh water country of the Yawk Yawk. Ngyalod chases the travellers, threatening to steal their souls.
The Stalker Company, directed by Rachael Swain, has produced a powerful and atmospheric outdoor experience, combining indigenous and non-indigenous artistry.
Mimi is part of Sydney's Festival of the Dreaming. It will be showing nightly at Centennial Park Amphitheatre at 8pm from September 17 to October 2, (except September 22, 23 and 29). Tickets are $24 and $19 concession.