Aliwah Bardinar: Bringing a Noongar creation story to the stage
The Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre is set to host an engaging new children’s show which brings to life the Noongar creation story of how the Western Rosella – known as Bardinar in the Noongar language – got its colours.
Aliwah Bardinar has been crafted by award winning composers Gina Williams-Ghouse, and the late Guy Ghouse. Their work makes a return to Bunbury after the 2023 success of Noongar language opera Koolbardi wer Wardong.
“We are so excited about this little production. We love the stories, the costumes are beautiful, the music is so very sweet,” co-creator Gina Williams-Ghouse said.
“It tells this lovely story of the little Bardinar, our Western Rosella, who is unique to Noongar country.”
Designed for children aged 4 to 12 and their families, the show features characters from the Nyittiny – the Noongar creation time – when animals native to the South West were said to be preparing for the arrival of fire on Noongar country.
According to the legend, fire was taken from the moon and carried by various birds. The red beak of the Black Swan (Maarli), and the red breast of the Red Robin (Kooba) are said to be marks left by this journey.
Bardinar is nervous about arriving at the celebration looking dull, but with the help of the other birds, emerges as the multi-coloured parrot seen in the South West native bush today.
“Our creation time was the cold, and when you consider that Noongar people have held this country for more than 3000 generations, I’m not a scientist or a mathematician, but I think it puts us close to the end of an ice age,” Williams-Ghouse said.
“These productions are really important to us. Not because they’re a fun outing, or a musical gem. They help us to capture and to archive our language, our stories and our culture. You can’t separate language from culture.”
“It means these stories are available and they are kept safely for thousands of years to come. Not just for my descendants, but for yours as well, because as allies we all call this place home.”
BREC Executive Director Fiona de Garis said introducing children to high quality live performance is a core part of BREC’s role in the South West.
“Our schools and family program is a really important part of what we do. We choose works that entertain children while also encouraging them to think about the world around them, and every year more than 2,000 young people experience those stories at BREC.”
“We chose Aliwah Bardinar because it combines beautiful theatre with themes that really matter to the next generation. Helping young people understand and care for the natural environment has never been more important, and storytelling is a powerful way to inspire that connection.”
“We’re looking forward to welcoming more than 650 local students, along with their teachers and local Elders, to the schools’ matinee. Then, in the evening, families can make an occasion of it with complimentary pasta before the show and a Noongar language yarning session presented by Bilya Moorditjabiny Training Service, adding another layer of connection to the language, culture and stories that shape this beautiful production.”
The pre-show yarning session will take place in the BREC foyer and introduce audiences to some of the Noongar words used in the performance.
Aliwah Bardinar will be performed at the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre on Thursday 30 July at 6pm. Tickets are available at bunburyentertainment.com or through the BREC Box Office.