Gunawarra Re-Creation review | ILBIJERRI Theatre Company & Melbourne Theatre Company

Gunawarra Re-Creation is a work that sits at the intersection of storytelling, culture and family, weaving a contemporary narrative through an ancient Creation story that has been carried across generations. Written by Isobel Morphy-Walsh, the production touchingly explores how memory, Country and kinship exist simultaneously, and how inherited stories continue to shape identity, resilience and healing in the present.

Having not seen the 2024 staging of Gunawarra Re-Creation, this review considers the current iteration on its own terms. With a new cast, director and movement consultant shaping this version, the focus is on what this ensemble brings to the telling of the story.

A new cast inevitably reshapes a work in ways that go beyond simple substitution. Rhythm, chemistry and the small choices each actor brings to a role all shift when different performers inhabit the characters. This ensemble of Hannah Morphy-Walsh, Lisa Maza, Melodie Reynolds-Diarra and Miela Anich draws the family's connections vividly to the fore. Maza in particular possesses a remarkable authority as Aunty Aggie. The resonance and weight of her voice lend every line gravitas, making her an undeniably commanding presence.

Under Andrea James' direction, the relationships between Aunty Aggie, Roo and Murrun (Maza, Reynolds-Diarra and Anich) are rich with love, defiance and fierce protectiveness. Morphy-Walsh's as Gunawarra deepens the connection to ancestral storytelling, strengthening the spiritual bond between these women and Country.

The contribution of movement consultant Zoe Brown-Holten is evident in the physical language of the play. At times, the women adopt Gunawarra's qualities presented through their postures and mannerisms, rather than explicit imitation. Elsewhere, choreographed movement creates a flow that transforms the bond between Aunty Aggie, Roo and Murrun into something communicated as much through physicality and staging as with dialogue. The result is a compelling sense of unity, with their closeness expressed by every glance, gesture and step.

Dann Barber's set design centres on a large, irregular slab of wood that rotates to carry the women through time, allows them to shift seamlessly between location, past and present, history and story. Suspended above the stage, a circular screen projects stop-motion illustrations of Gunawarra, creating a dreamlike response that blurs the line between animation and memory.

Katie Sfetkidis' lighting is beautifully realised, balancing warmth and intimacy while subtly shifting to reflect the emotional landscape of each scene without drawing attention to itself. James Henry's sound design and composition provide a moving undercurrent, reinforcing both the tender and more powerful moments.

Gunawarra Re-Creation invites audiences to sit with its imagery, relationships and cultural storytelling, allowing each person to find their own meaning within it. With assured performances, thoughtful direction and striking visuals, this production honours the enduring strength of First Nations women while reminding us that the oldest stories remain among the most vital, continuing to evolve with every generation that carries them forward.

SHOW DETAILS

Venue: Southbank Theatre, 140 Southbank Blvd, Southbank
Season: until 11 July | 7pm
Duration:
 90 minutes
Tickets: $30 - $45
Bookings: ILBIJERRI Theatre Company

Image supplied by ILBIJERRI Theatre Company
Photography: Jacinta Keefe (Wiradjuri)