Jandamarra

Steve Hawke

• Publisher: Currency Press
• Year: 2014
• eBook ISBN: 9781925004939
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Drama
• Index: Literature

Jandamarra is a legend of the Bunuba people. He was only in his mid-twenties when he was gunned down in 1897, but in his short life he created a legacy that will never be forgotten. He led one of the longest and most successful campaigns to defend Aboriginal country in Australian history.

ACT ONE

PROLOGUE

The Indigenous actors begin to inhabit the stage, dressed in traditional costume, going about their everyday business.

On cue, the house lights and music go down.

DIBINARRA moves to the high point, then indicates for silence.

These first lines are surtitled to set up a convention to be used later.

DIBINARRA: Winyi wunggurragi. Ngirri.inga mathawirrinyagu thangani Jandamarra.wu, Bunuba.nhi muwayi. [Listen up, everybody. We are here to tell you a story about Jandamarra, from Bunuba country.]

He rejoins the Bunuba camp. The rasping of spears being sharpened. Domestic scenes.

Projected animation #1: Snake breathing slowly. Peaceful and powerful.

Singing and transformation music as the cast enter into the body and spirit of their characters.

ILAJI: [offstage] Yackaaiiii. Wadgurragaliii Limalurruyawu! [They’re coming into Limalurru.]

ILAJI, JANDAMARRA and DARRUDI charge onto stage. Excited talk and gestures.

The BUNUBA MOB spread out to hide and watch as:

MARY, JOE and LINDSAY enter, carrying goods and guns, as a long, exciting day draws to a close.

MARY sees smoke in the distance. She calls JOE over and points. He indicates that she shouldn’t worry.

Lights focus on the BUNUBA. JINI and YILIMARRA call the group together.

JINI: Malngarri yani bagawurragi Limalurru yuwa, ngaanyi barrma birranggu? [What are we going to do about these whitefellers camped at Limalurru?]

YILIMARRA: Malngarri yani ganbawuwirragi nyirraji rarrgi ngilamungga. [They’re all chasing that gold, way to the east.]

JINI: [angrily] Ngayi ngilamungga wadgurragi. [No, this lot aren’t going east.]

MARRALAM: Ngindaji mindija gimma Yilimarra. [She’s right, Yilimarra.]

JINI nods approvingly, as all but MARRALAM withdraw from sight. MARRALAM talks directly to the audience before joining them.

Jini was right. This malngarri mob weren’t travelling through our country looking for gold. They were moving in to Limalurru. They were here to stay.

SCENE ONE

Evening sounds of birds. Lights pick out JANDAMARRA and DARRUDI watching the BLIGHS.

LINDSAY is almost sleepwalking as he accepts a goodnight kiss from MARY, then steps down.

JOE: He’ll sleep well.

MARY: He sure will. What a day.

JOE gives her a hug. She looks back to the ranges.

That smoke was from campfires, wasn’t it?

JOE: Yeah, but they’re miles away.

MARY: Are you sure we don’t need to set up a watch?

JOE: The dogs’ll wake us if there’s any trouble.

MARY: I’ll take first stint.

JOE: Remember, darling. Show no fear.

She lets him lead her off. Darkness.

Light on the singer, WANGAMARRA, sitting to the side of the stage at a fire, dressed as a traditional man. He begins to sing:

WANGAMARRA: [sung] Limalurru dawulma bingirri

Limalurru dawulma bingirri

Galanganyja dawulma bingirri

Galanganyja dawulma bingirri

As the song fades, JINI turns to the audience.

JINI: My little brother Gumbayi is singing his song. We still dance it today; a song for my son,...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Playwright’s Biography
• Introduction
• Director’s Notes
• First Production
• Author’s Note
• Principal Characters
• Act One
• Act Two
• Copyright Page