The Visitors by Jane Harrison
- New Zealand
- Performance
On a sweltering day in January 1788, seven clan leaders gather on a sandstone escarpment overlooking the harbour.
The attendees, six of them Elders and one new initiate, catch-up, laugh together, share a meal and compare notes. But beyond the friendly banter, protocols, and hospitality, a momentous decision is waiting to be made.
A mysterious fleet of giant nawi is amassing in the harbour and as they creep closer, these seven representatives must choose unanimously: whether to send these strangers on their way or welcome them?
Visitors leave. Right?
Awarded Best Mainstage Production and Best Ensemble at the 2023 Sydney Theatre Awards, written by Muruwari playwright Jane Harrison, and directed by one of Australia’s most celebrated directors, Quandamooka man Wesley Enoch. The Visitors is a riveting, deeply researched insight into one of the most impactful and painful days in Australia’s history and a hugely entertaining study of how communities respond to change and the unknown.
More info: Moogahlin Performing Arts
Supported by the Australian Government through the Australian Cultural Diplomacy Grants Program.