SBS and NITV’s True Colours is a murder mystery that twists and turns between two laws to find a killer very close to home

Things are not what they seem in SBS and National Indigenous Television’s (NITV) compelling fourpart crime drama True Colours. What starts with the investigation of a car accident soon turns into an epic hunt for a killer. It’s a murder mystery like no other exploring culture, community, family and one woman’s pursuit to find her place within it.

Premiering across four consecutive nights from Monday 4 July at 8.30pm on SBS and NITV, Rarriwuy Hick (Redfern Now, Cleverman, Wentworth) spearheads a stellar cast including Luke Arnold (Never Tear Us Apart: The Untold Story of INXS, Black Sails), acclaimed singer-songwriter Warren H. Williams, and Miranda Otto (The Unusual Suspects, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, The Lord of the Rings).

Set in the fictional community of Perda Theendar against the backdrop of the Northern Territory’s Mparntwe (Alice Springs) and Yeperenye (East MacDonnell Ranges), the series in English and Arrernte, is a ground-breaking insight into the Arrernte peoples’ connection to art and cultural practices.

Detective Toni Alma (Hick) is assigned to investigate a suspicious car accident in Perda Theendar, the Aboriginal community she left as a child and has had little to do with over the years. The beauty of Aboriginal art and the sometimes-devious practices in the global art market lead Detective Alma on a hunt for a killer in her hometown.

The creative team behind this bold story are co-creators Erica Glynn (Redfern Now, Black Comedy, She Who Must Be Loved) and Warren H. Williams (who also stars in the series as Detective Alma’s Media Release 8 June 2022 uncle, Samuel), with writers Erica Glynn, Steven McGregor (Sweet Country, Mystery Road), and Danielle MacLean (Little J & Big Cuz, Mystery Road). The series was produced by Penny Smallacombe, and Bunya Productions’David Jowsey and Greer Simpkin, the award-winning team behind Sweet Country, Mystery Road, and Goldstone.

The ensemble cast includes Errol Shand (Operation Buffalo, Mystery Road, Rake), Emilie de Ravin (Remember Me, Lost, Once Upon A Time), Trisha Morton Thomas (Total Control, Redfern Now, Radiance), and Ben Oxenbould (The Kettering Incident, Mr InBetween, Mystery Road).

This incredible lineup is rounded out by the following exceptional local talent, many of whom count the series as their first acting role: Sabella Kngwarraye Ross Turner, Kurt Abbott, Kumalie Kngwarraye, Natalie Pepperill, Warren ‘Wazza’ Williams, Grant Wallace, Janaya Kopp, Siobhan Breaden, Genise Williams, Martin McMillan, Keenan Mitchell, Stella McMillan, Rosario Young, and Waylon Dixon.

SBS Head of Scripted Julie Eckersley and NITV Head of Commissioning and Programming Kyas Hepworth said: “SBS and NITV are a great team. We believe in the unique power of fiction to transport audiences into fascinating and often underexplored worlds not otherwise seen on Australian TV. True Colours is NITV’s first foray into long-form drama and continues our commitment to telling diverse stories with a distinctive voice. This is not only a remarkable drama, but also a significant moment in television history.”

Producer Penny Smallacombe said: “The gift of True Colours is its stellar on-screen and behind the scenes talent. Erica Glynn and Warren H. Williams created characters and a storyline with complexity and meaning from which audiences can experience Arrernte people, language, and culture. It’s opened a door and I hope audiences realise what a privilege it is to be let into this world.”

Rarriwuy Hick said: “I’m beyond proud to be involved in such a ground-breaking drama series that takes viewers deep into the world of a First Nations community as it has never been seen before, also showcasing Arrernte language which is extraordinary to hear and perform. It’s always a pleasure to bring a character to life on screen, but there’s something special about playing Toni Alma . As a woman who is trying to work out who she is and what she wants, she is as equally drawn to her family and culture as she is confronted by it. I can’t wait for everyone to see this amazing series.”

True Colours is a Bunya production for SBS with development and major production investment from Screen Australia’s First Nations Department in association with SBS and NITV, Screen Territory and Screen NSW. APC (About Premium Content) is the global partner on the program. The series was co-developed with CAAMA (Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association).

The series will be subtitled in Arabic, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean and will be added to the language collections on SBS On Demand.

True Colours leads SBS and NITV’s impressive NAIDOC slate for 2022, including two specials of Living Black that take a closer look at the making of the series. Stay tuned after the first episode of True Colours for Erica Glynn – Woman of Many Talents on 4 July at 9:30pm on NITV, where host Karla Grant speaks with the award-winning writer, producer, and director about her life and career, and her role as co-creator of True Colours. Then, in Living Black: True Colours – Behind the Scenes on 7 July at 9:30pm on NITV, Karla is joined by creators Erica Glynn and Warren H. Williams, Rarriwuy Hick, and translator Marie Ellis to explore how Arrernte language, culture, and community helped to shape this unique series.

SBS and NITV’s NAIDOC line-up highlights include the Australian television premiere of documentary series Off Country, the return of the National NAIDOC Awards Ceremony for 2022 live on NITV and SBS VICELAND, the return of Australia’s only Indigenous television breakfast program Big Mob Brekky, SBS Radio sharing the Uluru Statement from the Heart in-language for Australia’s diverse communities, and more.

As the National NAIDOC Principal Media Partner and official Education Partner, National NAIDOC Week will be celebrated across all SBS channels and platforms, including an exclusive NAIDOC collection of series and films available to stream on SBS On Demand and NAIDOC education resources via SBS Learn.

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• Interviews available • First look trailer here • Preview episodes here • Images here