Black Diggers regional telecast
Gemma Robins
Residents in more than 100 regional West Australia centres, towns and remote Aboriginal communities will be able to see a telecast of Black Diggers as part of this week’s Anzac Centenary commemorations.
Black Diggers is a co-production between the Queensland Theatre Company and the Sydney Festival, and was written by Tom Wright and directed by Wesley Enoch.
It was one of the theatrical highlights from this year’s Perth International Arts Festival, and is an important part of the 2015 Anzac Centenary commemorations. It tells of the hundreds of dispossessed Aboriginal soldiers who heard the call to arms and stepped up to fight for Australia on the battlefields of Europe.
Drawing from interviews with the families of these soldiers, as well as conversations with veterans, historians and academics, the production tells a story of honour and sacrifice, with a lightness of touch and an Aussie-larrikin attitude.
The performance will be telecast exclusively to regional Western Australia via Westlink to Community Resource Centres on Friday 24 April at 7.30pm.
In addition, residents in Albany, Mandurah, Broome, Moora, Merredin and Port Hedland will also have the opportunity to see the telecast.
Westlink is also available to everyone who receives their free-to-air TV via satellite, on Channel 602.
…
The telecast to Community Resource Centres has been supported by the State Government’s Royalties for Regions program.
Managed by the Department of Regional Development, Westlink is the Western Australian Government’s satellite television station.
The extended telecast is also proudly supported by Lotterywest, which means the performance will be seen at the Albany Entertainment Centre, Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, Merredin’s Cummins Theatre, the Moora Performing Arts Centre, the South Hedland Town Square, and the Broome Civic Centre.
Queensland Theatre Company’s tour of Black Diggers is supported by the Australian Government’s ANZAC Centenary Arts and Culture Fund and Sibelco Australia.
This production has been assisted by the Australian Government’s Major Festival initiative, managed by the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body, in association with the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals, Adelaide Festival, Brisbane Festival, Sydney Festival and Perth International Arts Festival.
This production has been commissioned with support from The Balnaves Foundation.
