QPAC

We pay our respects to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ancestors of this land, their spirits and their legacy. The foundations laid by these ancestors give strength, inspiration and courage to current and future generations, both First Nations and non-First Nations peoples, towards creating a better Queensland.

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$45 *

* A transaction fee of $7.50 applies.

1 hour

no interval, subject to change without notice

By Isobel Morphy-Walsh
Directed by Andrea James

Step into a powerful story of culture, memory and healing in this moving new theatre work from ILBIJERRI Theatre Company.

Murrun has returned to the watering hole. The same one Aunty Aggie used to take her to. The sacred one. Present and past collide. There she meets her old friend Gunawarra. The Black Swan. And there ensues their story. One of continuation of culture, creation and stories of Blak women’s healing.

Gunawarra Re-Creation by Taun Wurrung (Taungurung) writer Isobel Morphy-Walsh is a contemporary play that explores the continuation of culture through stories passed down between three-generations of women.

Adapting its narrative from the traditional Kulin story of Gunawarra – the black swan, and how they came to have black feathers – the work is set on Taun Wurrung country and traverses Blak women’s strength, survival and healing in a profoundly emotive production.

“[Gunawarra] deals with creation stories. It deals with Taun Warrung (Taungurung) cultural, spiritual and religious beliefs. It also deals with the experience of violence to female bodies and the recovery from that violence. It has conversations about Stolen Generations and the way in which their trauma can be passed on to the next generation ... To see my culture. To hear my language. To see my traditional dance on a mainstage is beyond my wildest dreams and beyond my ancestors’ wildest dreams. Telling this story has been a gift. Weaving creation stories with narratives of today are vital in understanding who I am and the culture I come from.” Isobel Morphy-Walsh

Following an acclaimed premiere season at Melbourne Theatre Company, experience this powerful and deeply moving work when it comes to QPAC as part of its 2026 national tour.

Gunawarra Re-Creation is part of Clancestry. Find out more about Clancestry.

About the Artists

ILBIJERRI Theatre Company
ILBIJERRI (pronounced il BIDGE er ree) is Australia’s longest-running First Peoples theatre company, established for over 30 years strong. Named after a Woiwurrung word meaning ‘coming together for ceremony’, ILBIJERRI creates, presents and tours challenging and provocative theatrical works that share the experiences of First Peoples in Australia with empathy and honesty.

Isobel Morphy-Walsh | Writer
Isobel Morphy-Walsh, a proud Nirim Baluk woman from the Taun Wurrung (Taungurung) people. A multidisciplinary artist spanning both visual art and performance, she is also a weaver, curator, producer, activist and educator. Isobel has spent her life working with her community and cultures with an emphasis on history culture, and country, and its importance today. In 2023 Isobel premiered her first production combining her whole family skills in song, dance and story, Gunga-na Dhum Nganinju (The stories we hold tightly) as part of YIRRAMBOI Festival.

Andrea James | Director
Andrea James is a Yorta Yorta/Gunaikurnai theatre-maker, playwright and director, and a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts. Her work reflects her identity, sharing historical and contemporary stories of Aboriginal experiences within sharp theatrical language and form. Her acclaimed works include The Black Woman of Gippsland for Melbourne Theatre Company, Big Name, No Blankets with ILBIJERRI Theatre Company, and Sunshine Super Girl, based on the life of Evonne Goolagong Cawley. Andrea’s work has been presented across Australia and internationally, and she is currently Associate Artistic Director at Griffin Theatre.

★★★★

A poignant exploration of pain, grief, healing and the myriad ways in which we process these complex emotions.

Arts Hub
The interplay of score, soundscapes and lighting creates a dynamic atmosphere that balances tension and tenderness, guiding viewers through the narrative with grace.

Arts Hub
Elegantly layered into a family history of three generations of women.

The Age

Recommended for ages 16+.

This performance contains references to rape, sexual assault, violence to body, forced removal of children and genocide. This performance also contains theatrical haze effects.

The Cremorne Theatre Visual and Sensory Guide [PDF, 2 MB] provides information on what you can expect while visiting QPAC.

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