Talented NIDA third-year acting student Tully Narkle will be supporting Program Manager Russ Smith on the new NIDA Open course for schools, Making Drama: Aboriginal Perspectives.
Photo: Tully Narkle in The Changeling at NIDA. (Photo: Patrick Boland)
Talented NIDA third-year acting student Tully Narkle will be supporting Program Manager Russ Smith on the new NIDA Open course for schools, Making Drama: Aboriginal Perspectives, in May this year.
As a Ngarrindjeri man and NIDA Open tutor on the course, Russ says the way stories are told in Indigenous culture is one of the important aspects of the new program. He is excited to work with Tully, who grew up in a multicultural, non-English speaking family, her mother from Finland and her father a Nyoongar/Yamatji man from Western Australia.
‘Kids of this age love to explore and play at being typical characters, such as princesses or super-heroes, but we are excited about introducing the idea of characters from Australia’s Indigenous culture to them,’ said Russ. ‘Tully is also enthusiastic about sharing her love of acting and performance skills with the children.’
‘It’s important for Indigenous culture that children are introduced to these stories early, as it will become a language for the future, and forms part of our national identity,’ said Tully. ‘The course is also fun and we’re introducing children to these incredible stories that they wouldn’t have perhaps encountered otherwise.’
The course is ideal for school or other groups for grades 3‑6, who will enjoy the story-telling and performance aspects of the course.
‘So much of Indigenous culture is shared and transferred through oral language. Stories are told so that the ideas and lessons behind them are remembered. Stories are shared by telling legends of the land, ancient traditions, song and dance,’ said Russ.
‘What is interesting about this program is the variety of Indigenous story-tellers working with the young people. Coming from different mobs, we will all have unique Dreamtime stories that are special to us and that we want to share.’
‘Some of the characters we will explore are quite cheeky, which will also give us a chance to really explore the comedy within them.’
- Learning opportunities in this course are:
- Experience Aboriginal artists sharing Dreamtime stories.
- Participate in movement and play-building exercises.
- Discover how the elements of drama create meaning.
- Work with other students to recreate traditional Dreamtime stories.
NIDA Open’s Making Drama: Aboriginal Perspectives begins on Wednesday 30 May, NIDA Kensington and is available to schools across NSW and Australia. For more details and to register your interest, please visit https://www.nida.edu.au/schools-and-teachers/events-for-school-students
