Film, Classical Music, Words & Ideas at the Darwin Festival

FILM

This year, Darwin Festival presents two powerful and captivating films that use the thrilling energy of sport to tell very human stories. Looking into the rites and rituals of a rural New Zealand rugby club, The Ground We Won is a cinema vérité documentary study of manhood, mateship, obligations and belonging, both on the pitch and off. Catch the screening at Deckchair Cinema on Monday 12 August.

Indian Horse follows the life of a Canadian First Nations boy as he survives an oppressive residential school, and life in the face of aggressive assimilation policies and racism. A talented ice hockey player, Saul must find his own path as he battles stereotypes and alcoholism. No matter how good he is at ice hockey, he’ll always be seen as second class because of his Indigenous heritage. Don’t miss it at Deckchair Cinema on Monday 19 August

CLASSICAL MUSIC

It’s the year for significant birthdays with Darwin Symphony Orchestra getting festive for their 30^th Anniversary Gala. A program of three very different compositions feature in this musical night to remember, including Sibelius’ rousing Finlandia followed by a world premiere from celebrated Australian composer Lachlan Skipworth commissioned especially for the 30th anniversary and designed to reflect the spirit of the Territory. This special triple bill takes place at the Darwin Convention Centre, Saturday 24 August.

Filled with gorgeous music, Opera Australia is back in Darwin, this time transporting audiences to the exotic sights and sounds of Japan with Puccini’s famous opera Madama Butterfly. One of Australia’s greatest theatrical minds, John Bell, directs this production performed by Opera Australia’s magnificent cast accompanied by a chamber orchestra and supported by a children’s chorus drawn from local communities. See it at the Darwin Entertainment Centre, Friday 9 and Saturday 10 August.

WORDS & IDEAS

One that’s sure to have the whole Territory talking is StoryProjects Birds Eye View: Prison Stories. Take an audio journey beyond the stereotypes and razor wire to the muster yard, where women from the Darwin Correctional Centre reflect on their lives before, during and after prison. Walk with them as they loop the loop through poetry, love, betrayal and their prison home. Part walking tour, part audio essay, this immersive listening experience collapses the walls between insiders and out, giving a rare and intimate view of life behind bars. Birds Eye View: Prison Stories takes place at Fannie Bay Gaol, Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 August.

A favourite of the Festival, SPUN returns with another evening of stories drawn from real life in the Northern Territory. Teaming up with Carers NT, SPUN: ENTWINED brings you six entwined stories about those among us who look after others – children, grannies, parents, siblings and even the next-door neighbour. This event is an early sell-out each year, check it out on Tuesday 20 August at The Lighthouse.

Charles Darwin University delivers an inspiring afternoon of provocative questions and stimulating ideas with Sunday at CDU on Sunday 18 August. This year the talks take inspiration from the UN observed Year of Indigenous Languages to curate a series of inspiring sessions that look at what is, can and should be done to keep this important aspect of Indigenous culture alive through three engaging panels. The day’s discussions start with a performance by the stunning Tiwi Strong Women’s Choir.

More information: www.darwinfestival.org.au