It’s storytelling at its best – courageous, raw and about facing your fears. TRACY is an uplifting and touching story of two women, Hilda and Nicky, who are brought to Darwin in very different circumstances, each confronting their past in their search to find ‘home’.

Meet up at the Court Theatre and celebrate Aussie determination in the face of adversity with the latest Darwin Theatre Company and Business Unusual co-production – TRACY presented in Townsville by Tropic Sun.

Nicky grows up in England where her family owns a country hotel but, when her father doesn’t pay the bills, the debt collectors close the business. Her family lives at the hotel in secret but when the authorities return, the family are forced to flee and they head to Darwin, Australia.

Hilda, a Yanyuwa woman, was born near Borroloola in Arnhemland. When one of her aunties is killed in a tribal spearing, the police take all the witnesses and all the half-caste children to Darwin on horseback. Hilda is placed in the now infamous Kahlin Compound where she grows up, hungry and uncared for.

In the meantime, Cyclone Tracy hovers off the coast as the whole of Darwin braces for what is now part of Australian history.

This production is based upon the lives of two incredible women who each are uplifted from their homes and settle in Darwin prior to the arrival of Cyclone Tracy which subsequently struck the region with incredible destructive force.

"TRACY is a celebration of the Australian spirit and is it’s a family friendly show that every Australian and every visitor to Australia should see” said Director Sarah Cathcart.

Tracy has just had its first audiences in Darwin and this is what they had to say

"A powerful piece of theatre, with great story telling, something I could relate to"

"Acting is great, physical cyclone ‘dance’ is fantastic"

"Puppetry was wonderful"

"Great to see two cultural perspectives of a major historical event"

An elaborate journey through what is now part of Australian folklore, TRACY uses puppetry, visual imagery, and movement to tell the contrasting stories of the two women’s lives in the lead up to Cyclone Tracy.

Both stories are based on fact and the story of Hilda comes to life from her real-life granddaughter, actress Samantha Chalmers

Business Unusual and Darwin Theatre Company bring together Melbourne-based writer/director Sarah Cathcart, composer Kim Baston, designer Louise McCarthy, lighting designer Andrew Dudley and actors Samantha Chalmers and Nicola Fearn to create an uplifting new work highlighting the Australian spirit.

TRACY is a Theatre to The Edge presentation

• Yanyuwa woman Samantha Chalmers is one of the performers and story contributors in TRACY. She is the Indigenous Consultant for the project

• Hilda Muir is Samantha’s Grandmother. Samantha tells her Grandmother’s personal story as well as her own in the play. Samantha liaised with Hilda re the content of the piece and all material was shown to Hilda as it was developed for her input and consent

• As cultural consultant Samantha advised the company on protocols

• TRACY took two years before it reached production stage. During this time Samantha, the designer Louise McCarthy, and the writers were able to meet Hilda and hear her talk about her life

TRACY swooshes into Townsville

Weds 30 April & Thurs 1 May at 6.30pm
Fri 2 and Sat 3 May at 8pm (Dinner at 7.15pm)
Sun 4 May at 5pm

Why cook?
Come out early on Friday or Saturday and have Pre-Show Dinner and wine at 7.15pm $28p.p.

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Beef & Red Wine Casserole
Sealed in Golden Puff Pastry

Rich Trio Chocolate Mousse
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Tickets

Adults $30, Parties 6+ only $24, Concs and Pens (with card) $21, All Students $9.00 and Dress Circle Members $20.

Phone: 4721 5433

Bookings can be made online 24/7 at
http://www.tropicsun.com.au

Earlybird discount for online bookings only until 5:00pm Friday 25th April!!

BOOK NOW!!!