QTIX

Circa Cairns Son

22 - 25 Nov 2023
Playhouse, QPAC
1 hour 5 minutes
(no interval, subject to change without notice)
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$49 *
* A transaction fee of $7.20 applies.

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Circa Cairns Son

22 - 25 Nov 2023
Playhouse, QPAC

A pioneering circus sung into existence in a thrilling world premiere.

“Fathers are the bone on which sons sharpen their teeth.”

Son is a cultural circus work about the relationship between fathers and sons, and a mesmerising celebration of First Nations Culture and Queerness.

Inspired by Circa Cairns’ Artistic Director Harley Mann’s own experience growing up in a single mother household and how it informed his masculinity, Son challenges the Western model of family through beautiful acrobatics, contemporary cultural dance, and beautifully sung into existence live by female First Nations music group Kardajala Kirridarra.

Take your seat and follow the son from sunset to sunrise as he questions his identity through his journey into manhood. Watch four male First Nations acrobats embrace who they are, their physical strengths and guarded vulnerabilities, and explore what masculinity can mean in 21st century Australia.

Part odyssey, part coming of age story, Son is pioneering circus on the cusp of tradition and revelation from First Nations-led circus ensemble Circa Cairns, co–directed by Harley Mann and Alexander Berlage.

Don’t miss this world premiere event and revelatory circus experience.

Important Information

Age Recommendation

Recommended for ages 12+.

Warning

Son may contain voices and images of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People who have passed away.

Accessibility at QPAC

For wheelchair users, Companion Card holders or those requiring assistance, dedicated seating options are available, and bookings can be made through our Call Centre by calling 136 246. You can also find information on access and accessibility at QPAC here.

Presented by QPAC and Circa Cairns

Circa Cairns is a Circa initiative supported by the Queensland Government and the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation. Circa Cairns is supported in 2022 by the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) fund – an Australian Government initiative.

Circa Cairns is based in Gimuy (Cairns) on the lands of the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji people. We acknowledge that art has been practiced here over many millennia, and that it remains a fundamental way of life for the traditional caretakers and custodians of the lands on which we work, create and perform today. We acknowledge that we are here as visitors, and accept the responsibility to respect and care for these lands and tread lightly. Always was. Always will be.

Cast and Creatives

  • Created by Harley Mann, Alexander Berlage and the Circa Cairns Ensemble with Kardajala Kirridarra
  • Co-Directors Harley Mann and Alexander Berlage
  • Music Production and Performance Kardajala Kirridarra
  • Lighting Designer Alexander Berlage
  • Due to the nature of live performance, the individuals in the Circa Cairns Ensemble and musicians are subject to change. A current and accurate list of acrobats involved in the performance will be available closer to the performance date.

Circa Cairns

Circa Cairns is a proudly First Nations-led contemporary circus ensemble, based in regional Queensland, dedicated to creating bold art from the nexus of place and culture.

Fuelled by values of thrilling, challenging and connecting its diverse team which features a majority of First Nations artists, Circa Cairns creates, presents and tours new circus productions and innovative engagement programs.

Circa Cairns is a Circa initiative supported by the Queensland Government and the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation, and is supported in 2022 by the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund – an Australian Government initiative. Circa Cairns is based in Gimuy (Cairns) on the lands of the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji people. We acknowledge that art has been practiced here over many millennia, and that it remains a fundamental way of life for the traditional caretakers and custodians of the lands on which we work, create and perform today. We acknowledge that we are here as visitors, and accept the responsibility to respect and care for these lands and tread lightly. Always was. Always will be.

Kardajala Kirridarra

Kardajala Kirridarra translates to ‘Sandhill Women.’ Kardajala is the name of the mysterious bush woman from the sandhills behind the community of Marlinja, Northern Territory.

Kardajala Kirridarra create music to empower women in all aspects of their role as creators, from young girls through to being mothers and grandmothers.

From their inception until now, Kardajala Kirridarra has won the NT Song of the Year award, played at Golden Plains Festival, Wide Open Spaces, and Barunga Festival, and were the first all-female band to appear at Bush Bands Bash in 2016. The descendants of a mysterious bush woman from the Northern Territory, these compelling women are from the communities of Marlinja and Kulumindini (Elliott) and together with Melbourne based producer Beatrice they form Kardajala Kirridarra. With the release of their debut self-titled album featuring new single “Ngabaju (Grandmother’s Song)”, Kardajala Kirridarra meld the contemporary with the traditional. Sung in both Mudburra and English, together they tell the story of the connection between Aboriginal women and country as a reminder about the importance of women as creators.

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