Black Drop Effect, a new play by Nardi Simpson (The Stiff Ins), will premiere on January 14 during Sydney Festival 2020.
Through her debut play Black Drop Effect Yuwaalaraay woman and famed Stiff Gins musician Nardi Simpson turns her attention to the ongoing effects of colonisation in a powerful collaboration, with a collective of First Nations and non-Indigenous artists.
The play is an immersive, multi-layered experience that draws audiences into the contested spaces of ideas and emotions inspired by, and responding to, the 250th anniversary of Captain Cook’s landing in Australia.
“The idea came to my mind when Wesley Enoch said to a group of Indigenous artists that 2020 is coming and it is going to be a big year of commemoration of that colonial narrative; Captain Cook coming to Australia,” Nardi Simpson said in our conversation.
Creative people in all genres from the Mob heeded Wesley Enoch’s call including dancers, poets, musicians and writers.
Black Drop Effect is about how we as modern Black Fellas relate to those themes and translate them into new ways
Nardi Simpson explianed that her play Back Drop Effect , revolves around its central character: uncle Binno; an elder and erstwhile member of a community dance group.
The plot begins when Uncle Binno is asked by a local council to present a series of traditional dances, alongside readings of Captain Cook’s diaries, for a 26 January celebration.
The play follows Uncle Binno’s teaching and sharing and exchanging of culture through dance.
“There are twists and turns on the way but uncle Binno has a plan all along. He is teaching culture but he’s got other surprises in mind,” Nardi Simpson said.
“Black Drop Effect is about how we as modern Black Fellas relate to those themes and translate them into new ways,” she added.
Black Drop Effect was produced by Bankstown Art Centre in collaboration with Sydney Festival.