Sep 22

Sep 22 Theatre Review: Marrugeku’s “Jurrungu Ngan-ga” is a kaleidoscopic rage against the machine

At a time when the entire nation is grappling with the Voice referendum, the cultural asteroid that is “Jurrungu Ngan-ga” crashes into the Heath Ledger Theatre, making a well-timed impact that is both wildly inventive and fearlessly confronting.

Created by Marrugeku and brought to us by the Black Swan State Theatre Company of WA, Jurrungu Ngan-ga (Straight Talk) is a multi-faceted piece of performance theatre that defies convention. Led by a passionate and versatile troupe of dancers, Jurrungu Ngan-ga leaves no holds barred in its fierce indictment of Australia's past and ever-present sins. As its title suggests, Marrugeku aims to 'give it to you straight' with this production, and they are willing to utilise every tool at their disposal to ensure that their message sticks with you. At its core, they seek to take on Australia's disconcerting fixation on incarceration, drawing a stark parallel between the alarming rates of Indigenous imprisonment and the unchecked detention of asylum seekers, but what they end up saying is much, much more.

Jurrungu Ngan-ga knows to burn slowly, beginning its series of interwoven vignettes with simple but raw choreography, and gradually unleashing its full kaleidoscopic power at the right time. Leveraging its emotionally-driven choreography, synth-laden musical composition, and clever implementation of mixed media, "Jurrungu Ngan-ga" successfully cultivates an unnerving atmosphere that forces us to engage with the uncomfortable and shameful aspects of our national identity. We get the warm pulsating glow of moving chandeliers, hard-thumping spoken word, transformative stage props, contortionistic movements, and digital projections to conjure a spell-binding illusion that you’re watching the performance through a CCTV camera.

One of the key highlights, a turning point for the production, is a powerful ensemble setpiece evoking underground ballroom culture led by Bhenji Ra. Ra’s performance is electrifying - from the moment she takes the stage, she captivates us completely through her effortless charm and the magnetic delivery of her monologue. In collaboration with the rest of the talented cast, this vignette serves as the beating heart of the entire piece, culminating in an angry, heartbreaking, and defiantly joyful celebration of the people who have suffered under Australia’s systemic oppression.

While some of its ambitious setpieces work better than others, to break this show down into its component parts is to do it a disservice - as a whole, Jurrungu Ngan-ga is a triumph. Marrugeku's fusion of dance, music, and mixed media creates a sensory overload that is both disorienting and mesmerizing. We are immersed in a world where the voices of the marginalized are amplified with an unapologetic intensity.