While Moulin Rouge! The Musical is enjoying its final weeks in Melbourne prior to concluding its Australian tour, creator and producer Global Creatures have at least one more progressive decision to announce. Global Creatures has confirmed they will be dedicating their evening performance on 26 January 2024 to The Westerman Jilya Institute and Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company – two First Nations organisations who make substantial differences to the lives of their community.
This is not a dedication in name only. The profits from the performance will be donated to these two organisations, citing the work that these two organisations do in each making “a tangible and meaningful difference in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids, families and communities by improving mental health outcomes and maintaining and strengthening cultural connection“.
The performance will also conclude with Kungarakan Warramungu woman Merinda Dickson, Chief Operating Officer of The Westerman Jilya Institute; Nyaki-Nyaki Maaman, Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company’s Artistic Director, Maitland Schnaars and Wadjuk woman, Yirra Yaakin Associate Director Bobbi Henry joining the show’s producer, Carmen Pavlovic and the cast on stage to raise awareness of the work they do.
According to Global Creatures:
There was considerable discussion within the Moulin Rouge! The Musical company about whether to perform on 26 January – a day that is traumatic and painful for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Moulin Rouge! The Musical decided to go ahead and use the show’s platform to make an economic contribution, raise awareness of the human rights issues still facing many Indigenous people and to celebrate the love and support these two Aboriginal community controlled organisations bring to so many Indigenous lives.
Further commenting on this announcement, Carmen Pavlovic, producer of Moulin Rouge! The Musical shared:
Earlier this year the company accepted the invitation of the Uluru Statement of the Heart and declared our support for enshrining an Indigenous Voice to Parliament in the Australian Constitution. Irrespective of the outcome on October 14th, our commitment to supporting Aboriginal people does not stop after the referendum. We continue to walk with Indigenous people and to support reconciliation in this country. We felt very strongly about that. We are honoured to partner with two important and greatly respected organisations, The Westerman Jilya Institute and Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company, who are doing invaluable work for Aboriginal people and communities
Carmen Pavlovic
Furthermore, statements have been shared by representatives from both organisations the performance is dedicated to:
At Jilya, we do not celebrate Australia Day. Instead, we observe it as a day of mourning, and we advocate for change. While changing the date may not magically undo all of the historical impact, nor prevent the continued injustices for our Aboriginal Australians, it does demonstrate a willingness to acknowledge and value all the pain and suffering, and without this we cannot heal. We are so pleased to be joined by allies such as Global Creatures who walk with us on the path to healing.
Merinda Dickson
“This generous gesture from the producers, Global Creatures, The Regent Theatre, Ticketek and the whole team behind Moulin Rouge! The Musical is everything that is moorditj (good/strong) about the theatre moort (family). We all know that the invitation from the Uluru Statement of the Heart is still open. As Aboriginal people and theatre makers we are reminded that we never walk alone, and that the future is much brighter than the past. Only the arts can make society look at itself and think, reflect, and change for the better
Maitland Schnaars
More information about both organisations can also be found below:
The Westerman Jilya Institute for Indigenous Mental Health Aboriginal Corporation was founded in December 2019 by Nyamal woman, Dr Tracy Westerman AM, who has worked for two decades to reduce the burden of mental illness and suicide in Aboriginal communities. The Westerman Jilya Institute delivers support and mentoring to a network of Indigenous psychology students throughout Australia to support improved access to mental health services nationally that are both clinically and culturally appropriate, and which provide measurable outcomes for high-risk communities.
Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company develops contemporary Aboriginal productions with positive cultural messages to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities and audiences regionally, nationally and internationally. Yirra Yaakin also offers a program of activities and events that encourage self-determination for Aboriginal people with the aim to empower Australia’s First Peoples, preserve their culture, and provide enlightenment to non-Indigenous people regarding Aboriginal culture and history.
