Must-see play Black Cockatoo tells the tale of the first-ever Australian cricket team to tour England
Let’s play a little game of ‘did you know?’. First fun fact right off the bat – more than 150 years ago, 13 brave Aboriginal men sailed to England and into the unknown, all in the name of cricket. The true-story-inspired theatre piece coming to Brisbane Powerhouse, Black Cockatoo, tells this little-known tale with help from a stellar First Nations cast. Looking for a scintillating show to add to your calendar this April? This one is a winner.
Boasting a talented First Nations cast, Black Cockatoo isn’t just a play for sports lovers – its a must-see story of strength, resistance, hope and possibility. It tells the tale of the first-ever Australian cricket team to tour England, which was made up of 13 Aboriginal cricketers from Western Victoria including Indigenous sporting hero, Johnny Mullagh. This top-notch team of cricketers wowed the English crowds with their talent and grit – but not without some hardships along the way.
Hilarious, honest and poignant, Black Cockatoo is an artistic collaboration between Australian television screenwriter and playwright Geoffrey Atherden (Mother and Son, Babakiuera) and revered director Wesley Enoch (Black Diggers). This thought-provoking ensemble show stars an all-Indigenous cast, where the actors play all roles (yep, even the white English characters), as a commentary on race politics.
Black Cockatoo is coming to Brisbane Powerhouse from April 8–9. Grab your tickets at the Brisbane Powerhouse website.
To find out more about what’s on in Brisbane, head to our Event Guide.
