Billed as a sci-fi comedy about a stowaway time traveller on a spaceship in a future where Aboriginal people are at war with an alien race, this dystopian drama is sure to challenge audiences.
Co-founder of Cope St, Bjorn Stewart said he hopes the play provokes more discussion within the Aboriginal community.
“‘One of the Good Ones’ takes a more philosophical approach to some of the divisions and debates happening across the country. It explores the idea that Aboriginal culture can be represented in diverse ways and that there are many agendas that exist within our communities. “
As the ‘soldiers’ are forced to ensure the survival of Aboriginal culture against a hostile power the themes of sovereignty that have inspired ongoing debate feature strongly.
Stewart, who recently appeared on ABC’s ‘Black Comedy’, features alongside the 2015 Balnaves Indigenous Playwright winning Katherine Beckett and long established artist and theatre actor Colin Kinchela. The script was written by former journalist and co-founder of Cope St, Kodie Bedford.
The play is the first theatre production for the company who were formed in 2015 as ‘a collective of blackfella performers/writers/artists who like to create and laugh’. The creative team have also produced short films and a video installation art piece 'yira • warrawara' (teeth • crooked), which premiered at the .
With support from the Australian Council for the Arts, Indigenous X and individual sponsors through their the team are pleased to present four performances at the Red Rattler Theatre in Marrickville. With additional funds they hope to take their show to the Hothouse Theatre in Albury-Wodonga and work alongside the Indigenous theatre group there.
The Cope St Indigenous Arts Collective are keen to pay tribute to a long tradition of Indigenous theatre.
“Cope Street in Redfern was the site of the National Black Theatre when it was established in 1972,” explains co-founder Kodie Bedford.
“We want to continue that tradition and explore contemporary political and social issues in new and entertaining ways.”
'One of the Good Ones' will play at the Red Rattler Theatre in Marrickville on 28-30 June at 7.30pm and 30 June at 1pm.
