CELEBRATING INDIGENOUS VOICES
This two-part event is part of the BIBU Festival and the ASSITEJ Artistic Gathering in Helsingborg, Sweden, in May 2022. Link to the festival.
At the festival and recorded to be saved on ASSITEJ Online will be an open seminar on Saturday 21 May 13:30 - 14:45 in Helsingborg Arena, Gerda. This will be led by Asa Simma, Artistic Director of Giron Sami Teahter in Sweden (LINK), Tupe Lualua, Artistic Director of Le Moana Arts in New Zealand (LINK), and Zac James, Australian First Nations Playwright and Educator. On the ground will be Write Local Play Global Artistic Associate, UK Playwright, Educator, and Theatermaker Ginni Manning.
Below are three videos of performances for young audiences by and with indigenous artists.
RUSSELL’S WORLD
Written and directed by Herbie Barnes
Produced by Young People’s Theatre, Toronto, Canada
Russell’s World invites kids to explore their imaginations along with Russell – a lonely child who finds refuge from bullying in the make-believe world he creates in his bedroom – where his imagination (and belongings!) come to life. Innovative puppetry animates Russell’s fantastical friends “Bear”, “Jacket” and “Book” in this humorous and heartwarming play for the whole family. Created by Anishinabee director and writer Herbie Barnes, Russell’s World is his first production as Artistic Director of Young People’s Theatre.
Link to the video of the full performance
This is only available to BIBU Festival registrants and the password will be sent to them.
YANA WANA’S LEGEND OF THE BLUEBONNET
Written by Maria Rocha and Roxanne Schroeder-Arce
Produced by Indigenous Cultures Institute & Teatro Vivo, Texas, USA
The award-winning Yana Wana’s Legend of the Bluebonnet was originally commissioned by and premiered at the Dallas Children’s Theater in 2018. In 2019 it was produced and recorded by Indigenous Cultures Institute and Teatro Vivo, assuring cultural authenticity with an all-Indigenous cast, designers, and crew, and with Miakan-Garza tribe consultation. Written by Miakan-Garza tribal member Maria Rocha and published-playwright Roxanne Schroeder-Arce and with five original songs in the Coahuiltecan language composed by Hector Martinez Morales, the play features Indigenous dances, shares ancient traditions, and presents an alternative, Native-origin story about the first bluebonnets in Texas.
Preview Trailer
A link to the video of the full performance
It will be password protected and available only to registrants the BIBU Festival in Helsingborg, Sweden, May, 2022
COKI
Written by Indigenous/Hispanic (Puerto Rico/Taino) playwright Natasha Cosme Batista
Produced by the Indigenous Cultures Institute in partnership with the University of Texas at Austin
Young Ana thinks she is too small for the super important job of picking the quenepas from the big, big tree for her abuelos. With the power of stories from her Puerto Rican Indigenous ancestors, and a little inspiration from nature, she is reminded that we can do anything we set our mind to— when we think BIG! GRANDE!