Sheltering – Bangarra Dance Theatre. Canberra Theatre Centre, May 23, 26, 27, 2026
https://www.bangarra.com.au/news/2026-national-tour-sheltering/
Reviewed by Frank McKone
May 23
Sheltering is a major theatrical work of Indigenous Australian culture.
To place the importance of this work into context, if you see a top-class production of, say, Mourning Becomes Electra by Eugene O’Neill, you understand it is an expression of truth in American culture; as the Verdi opera La forza del destino is in Italian culture; or as Shakespeare’s The Tempest is in English culture.
Though you may not be American, Italian or English, such works cross cultural boundaries because they take us emotionally into experiencing universal truths which reflect our lives.
Though, like me, you may not be an Indigenous Australian, the emotional impact of this three-part work is palpable, from the story of the people’s origin on Country – of hope and growth in Keeping Grounded – in dance form; through, on film in Brown Boys, the being “challenged by insecurities of longing and perceptions imposed on brown boys within family and social settings” in modern times; and finally in the dance work Sheoak, which symbolises the people’s “enduring cultural responsibilities” and “resilience through their enduring presence, and their scars remind us of survival and adaptation just as our ancestors did”.
Sheltering is a major work of theatre art in dance, movie, and held together by a powerful music and sound track, such that the strength of feelings of hope, of tragedy, and of elation when the whole community works in cultural harmony, left me shaken.
And in a state of wonder at the originality of the presentation, especially of the choreography and dance skills, and the audio originating from the score created by David Duboo Page, of a kind beyond any expectation even of ‘modern dance’.
Frances Rings, of Wirangu and Mirning heritage, has taken up the tradition of Bangarra, from the Nunukul family of the Page brothers – Russell, David and long-time artistic director Stephen, and made a new work further establishing Australian Aboriginal culture, some 70,000 years old, in its rightful place, right now.
This work is surely one to be performed around the world.
Ngunnawal Country
Canberra Theatre Centre
23 - 27 May 2026
Gadigal Country
Sydney Opera House
3 - 13 June 2026
Wurundjeri Country
Arts Centre Melbourne
18 - 27 June 2026
Meanjin
Queensland Performing Arts Centre
9 - 18 July 2026
Credits
Artistic Director - Frances Rings
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SHEOAK
Choreographers: Frances Rings
The Dancers of Bangarra Dance Theatre
Composer: David Page (dec.)
Set Designer: Jacob Nash
Costume Designer: Jennifer Irwin
Lighting Designer: Karen Norris
KEEPING GROUNDED
Choreographers: Glory Tuohy-Daniell
The Dancers of Bangarra Dance Theatre
Composer: Brendon Boney
Set Designer: Shana O'Brien
Costume Designer: Clair Parker
Lighting Designer: Karen Norris
Rigging Consultant: Katie McDonagh
Creative Mentors: Jacob Nash, Matt Cornell
BROWN BOYS
Choreographer: Daniel Mateo
Directors: Cass Mortimer Eipper, Daniel Mateo
Composer: Leon Rodgers
Set and Costume Design: Elizabeth Gadsby
Director of Photography: Liam Brennan
Producer: Michaela Le
