Festival of Mother Tongues 2024

I only have 10 steps to tell you everything. Who knows if all is going to start or end in these 10 steps?

A thought-provoking play that delves into the experiences of Iranian women; shining a floodlight on the momentous events that have unfolded within the Iranian Women’s Movement since September 2022. This movement has transcended geographical boundaries, gaining global recognition and evoking empathy far beyond our homeland’s borders.

This play combines poetic and allegorical perspectives to reveal the injustices faced by women in Iran. At its core, this production is a tribute to the indomitable spirit and unwavering courage of Iranian women as they continue to navigate a system of gender apartheid.

Khoroos Zari Pirhan Pari

Golden Rooster with Feather Dress

It is a beautiful, festive children’s story with a profound moral purpose written by one of the greatest modern Iranian poets, Ahammad Sahmlu. A Rooster, a Cat and a Skylark live together happily in peace and harmony in a jungle until a cunning fox obsessively fixates on catching and eating the naïve, gullible and playful Rooster. The Fox patiently waits to achieve its evil intention when the cat and skylark decide to go to the jungle to collect wood. Both times, they manage to free the Rooster from the hands of the Fox.

What happens when a language dies?

The Last Sicilian explores the vanishing heritage of the Sicilian language. It conveys a profound sense of disappointment in witnessing the impending demise of this linguistic tradition.

On stage, the Sicilian language materialises as an ageing character, inviting the audience to witness its symbolic death. Through a narrative journey, the character recounts its poetic existence, tracing the linguistic evolution from ancient roots to neglect-induced demise.

A surreal tale of scars and strength.

Set against a backdrop of intrigue and passion, Bandini is a gripping exploration of human resilience and the pursuit of redemption. Though penned in Melbourne, the story unfolds in the home of a renowned Indian social worker who is awarded the highest honor for women empowerment. This accolade stirs bittersweet memories, bringing past scars back to life. The play navigates through the wounds of the past and the harsh truths of the present, culminating in an unexpected and powerful climax. Bandini is a compelling tale of deception and redemption, revealing the heavy price of uncovering the truth.

Country, Language, Lore, Kinship, Ceremony.

A contemporary understanding of who we are, incorporating Wathaurong language in a community ceremony on Country. Engage in contemporary cultural practices so we can share our culture with you.

Presented by: Glenn Shea – Indigenous Producer La Mama Theatre, Elder Respected Person Wathaurong/Wathaurong Aboriginal Community, La Mama Theatre, THE STORYTELLER

A physical theatre play that remind us to stay connected, even when it seems imposible. 

Two imprisoned women are forced to work with numbers and data inside underwater capsules, connecting the fiber optic cables that keep the world running. They cannot communicate or see each other, they are physically isolated and they do not even speak the same language. But they have a need to connect with each other, so they find another way: through dreams. This surreal yet realistic experience makes them stronger to fight against the power structure around them. Visually inspired by the artwork of Argentinian surrealist painter Leonor Fini, this story seeks to warn of the danger of a society in bubbles where the collective is lost. 

A physical monodrama that places the terrifying aswang folklore in present-day Philippines.

Aswang is a one-woman show about the most feared creature in Philippine folklore. It utilises the power of myth and folklore to name the true monsters in our midst – the invisible monsters that plague the country today.

An adaptation of Rody Vera’s Palanca Award-winning Ang Unang Aswang, the production features Mayen Estanero from the Cultural Centre of the Philippines in a tour de force performance portraying five characters – most of which are supernatural.

A new children’s play with music and puppetry, featuring creatures inspired by Philippine folklore.

The young girl Laia had always only known one thing: she and her family would wake up every day at the crack of dawn to toil in the barren fields of Dakila, hoping the soil would bring harvest one day. This all changes when Laia wakes up from a dream where the goddess, Iná, sings her songs from the underworld. As Laia tries to go back to her normal life, echoes of the dream reverberate, allowing Laia to remember how the desolate world of Dakila that she has grown accustomed to has not always been what it was. 

Be part of a fun event for the whole family, stories, magic and Hispanic culture on stage, to be complete we only need your presence with your family.

Quijocuentos is a show that incorporates specific schemes of clown theatre, typical of the techniques of commedia dell’ arte. This work utilises different clown games mixed with magic games. In this show, there are not only clowns with magician ‘ s skills, but also direct interaction with the audience, when performing interactive magic games.

A tour like no other: Italy’s contradictions and charm imported to Melbourne. 

“The Mice Had No Grandchildren” is an absurd and lighthearted comedy that captures a peculiar world. Its characters are trapped between a culture of obsessive caution, and a general sense of confusion. Walking barefoot or leaving drafts open are deadly dangers, everyone talks too much but understands little of what they say. Here, falsehoods and condescension are acceptable behaviors, perhaps even essential to the social fabric depicted in “The Mice Had No Grandchildren.” In this setting, it’s better not to trust, the ends justify the means, and above all, in a thief’s house, stealing is out of the question. 

A mother is willing to break the law in order to protect her daughter from sexual abuse since the justice system in her country does not apply to children. 

A woman discovers that her 5-year-old is sexually abused by her father. The woman must start a journey through government services to protect her child. The play wants to outline the impact of the abuse on the mother and the difficulties of receiving help from the organizations that are meant to protect children. Finally, the mother needs to leave everything beyond and go to Australia in order to save her daughter.

A man’s journey of losing, then finding, home.

Australia in the early 60s. An exotic and distant country where everything seems old-fashioned, culturally backward and unknown.  A young man, Alek,  attempts to define himself in this  unwanted new reality after being forced to leave his love, his friends, his beloved Warsaw, and the life he knew.

Can he cope with the alienation? Is he ever going to return? Is he ever going to call Australia his home?

In this one-man show based on Alek Silber’s memoirs, Kristof Kaczmarek takes us back and gives a light-hearted account of the everyday reality of a migrant that shines a light on the hopes, failures and joys of building a new life, surrounded by strangers. 

The people we least anticipate often achieve the unimaginable: The Extraordinary Tale of Nancy Wake

In 1944, Nancy Wake’s world was forever altered in France, and now, she tells her story her way! ‘The White Mouse’ follows Nancy Wake’s remarkable journey from her humble beginnings in New Zealand to becoming a prominent figure in the French Resistance during World War II, ultimately earning the title of the Gestapo’s most wanted woman. Witness her daring exploits, indomitable spirit, and unwavering courage as she navigates the perilous world of espionage. This moving production shines a spotlight on one of history’s unsung heroines, honouring the extraordinary women who reshaped the world through their courage and resilience.

An Italian Wedding is a headphone verbatim show exploring the themes of identity and belonging through the lens of an Italian wedding.

Researchers have conducted interviews with members of the Italian community and edited the stories into a playlist. Actors listen to the playlist in performance and speak at the same time as they are hearing the stories.  This innovative approach  allows the actors to capture the authentic voices and stories of Italian communities, spanning different generations and experiences. A moving, poignant and humorous piece of theatre drawn from a collection of unique and distinct narratives from the Italian communities of Melbourne and Italy.

Αριάδνη / Ariadne is an original contemporary tragedy based on the ancient myth of Ariadne of Crete.

Αριάδνη/Ariadne is a bold reimagining of the ancient Greek myth of Ariadne of Crete with original music.  Departing from the traditional focus on the Minotaur and Theseus, this contemporary tragedy delves into Ariadne’s upbringing in Crete and her yearning for freedom. Written in both English & Greek, this immersive storytelling experience takes the audience through Ariadne’s personal labyrinth of finding her voice as she reclaims her agency as a heroine. Inspired by the #metoo movement wave in Greece, Αριάδνη/Ariadne acknowledges that in the struggle for change, the only way out is in. Αριάδνη/Ariadne is a poignant reflection on the universal struggle for self-discovery resonating with audiences in Australia, Greece, and beyond as it navigates the complexities of gender, power, and identity.

A Mando-pop musical about the bystander in all of us: Can you tell when a friend is in need?

Hidden Tunes is a Mando-pop musical accompanied by traditional Chinese instruments. Set in a prestigious music academy, the story follows two classmates, brought together by their passion for music. When one of them faces sexual harassment from a respected professor, the two classmates must navigate the emotional turmoil that follows and find courage again in music and friendship. “Hidden Tunes” unravels the creative world of aspiring music students and puts the audience in the shoes of a bystander, asking the question: “Can we recognize when a friend is in need? And what can we do for them?”

Velika is a great play about the personal tragedy of a woman, which is a metaphor for the tragedy of a nation. A personal story of survival, which is a symbol for the survival of the people. 

The mythical Velika, from the anthological Macedonian prose “Pirey” by P. M. Andreevski, is a tragic heroine, she longs for at least a ray of hope, light, comfort – which remains impossible, unattainable until the very end of the story, 

Velika, probably the most significant/authentic female character from Macedonian literature, she foresaw her own destiny: in order to reach Greatness, one must die. At least a few times. At least in several ways. 

Look up. The stars you see now call to us from another time. Can you hear their stories? Cooee! is an enchanting journey through memory, myth and familial love.