Yirra Yaakin (‘Stand Tall’ in Noongar), Australia’s largest Aboriginal-led theatre company, is bringing Aboriginal theatre online with the newly launched Yirra Play Club. Yirra Play Club aims to facilitate the reading and discussion of plays fortnightly as part of their Solidarity Projects series in response to COVID-19.
These free sessions take place on Zoom and are hosted by a different club member each time. Held earlier this month on May 20, the first session was led by Yirra’s Artistic Director, Eva Grace Mullaley.
The sessions are open to anyone who enjoys theatre, but they are particularly valuable for budding performers and playwrights. The club provides the opportunity to look behind the scenes at the professional artistic process, as both amateurs and professionals are invited to take part in readings and discussion alongside some of Perth’s best artists. Anyone interested in taking part is welcome.
The creation of the Yirra Play Club is another innovative way to bring the wider community together through the arts in uncertain times, whilst also showcasing local indigenous artists, actors and writers. Yirra Yaakin plays a significant role in the cultural identity of Perth and WA, and the Yirra Play Club enables its continuation into a virtual space, especially with national and international expansions of the group in the works.
Yirra Play Club meetings run fortnightly on Wednesdays at 6pm, and the next session will take place on June 3rd. To get involved, contact the series producer at producer@yirrayaakin.com.au, as places are currently limited.
Theatre Performing Arts Aboriginal