The Sum of Us (expired event)

Yirra Yaakin & Perth Festival present a play exploring family dynamics, queerness & romance with an Australian First Nations cast which addresses contemporary representations of First Nations People.

The Sum of Us is a beautiful tale of a strong family bond, ageing, queerness and the dance we all do when searching for love. Written by David Stevens, The Sum of Us will be performed by an Australian First Nations cast in a 2.5 hour production spiced with Latin dancing and great music from the 1990s. In an industry where Indigenous people are constantly asked to relive their trauma instead of normalising good relationships, this play is about a beautiful father-son relationship and their search for love. This is the first time Yirra Yaakin has produced a play with a focus on queer identity. It will be presented as part of the need to display functional and dysfunctional families and represent First Nations people as contemporary, dynamic and evolutionary members of society.

How's a guy supposed to find Mr. Right when his father is always up in his business? That's the premise of this warm comedy that revolves around the comfortable relationship between widower Harry and his son Jeff. A beautiful tale of a strong family bond, ageing, queerness and the dance we all do when searching for love, this is Yirra Yaakin's first queer work. Performed by an Australian First Nations cast; it is a story that no culture is exempt from. Balancing humour and pathos, The Sum of Us remains as relevant today as it was 30 years ago.