Presented by: Gurrumul’s Mother’s- Bungul Gurrumul’s Grandmother’s Bungul- Gurrumul’s Manikay
Reviewed 1st March 2020
Bungul is nothing short of absolute beauty for 90 minutes in what is a stunning staging of Gurrumul Yunupiŋu’s final album Djarrimirri (Child of the Rainbow). A buŋgul is a ceremony, a meeting place of dance, song and ritual. Created on country in North East Arnhem Land with the Yunupiŋu family, this performance not only pays tribute to an incredible album of our era but also provides a learning experience in regards to Yolnu culture and celebrates the strength of Aboriginal culture.
As the Adelaide Festival Orchestra plays, a wave of serenity washes over the audience as we watch in wonder at the Yolŋu dancers painting one another as the crocodile song echos through Thebarton Theatre. As the performance progresses the sheer magnitude of witnessing the Yolnu dancers and songmen perform is an experience that can only be described as spiritual; as the music travels through you, your eyes are transfixed on the dancers. The audience is led through different songs/dances celebrating animals, weather and Dreaming, with the Didgeridoo and traditional chants fusing with the sounds of the Orchestra as if bringing two worlds together.
The energy in the theatre is electric and the staging allows you to have a view of all the different components happening on the stage along with a screen that brings the gorgeous Country of North East Arnham Land to the audience. Directed by Senior Yolngu Don Wininba Ganambarr and Nigel Jamieson this performance is a testimont to all involved as something very special and as the audience roared in a standing ovation it was clear that I was not the only person feeling as though I just witnessed a truly marvellous experience. It well and truly achieved its goal of instilling the importance of looking after the land we walk upon and was a beautiful reminder of a man who placed so much love in to his music.
Reviewed by Tara Forbes-Godfrey
Rating out of 5: 5 So much strength displayed in such a beautiful collaboration.
Season Ended
