GAPU ŊUPAN

Working with the divine Kath Papas, producer extraordinaire, towards engaging a Schools audience to share this beautiful work was an utter delight. The opportunity to connect schools who rate lowly on Myschool’s socio-economic scale with transformative, iconic and free theatre is what makes my world go around. Especially when Arts Centre Melbourne is also able to fully subsidise transport for schools through their First Call Fund. 

Gapu Ŋupan (Chasing the Rainbow) is a powerful and joyous new cross-cultural performance piece in music, song, dance, immersive video and sound design, created by a group of First Nations artists from Arnhem Land and Taiwan with ancient ancestral connections. At its heart are Yolngu stories about how other nations journeyed to and interacted with Yolngu people millenia before the recent European voyages. It speaks to Australia’s true and rich history, and celebrates our place in the world.

It is a work of scale to be performed in theatres at major festivals by an ensemble of 8 Yolngu and Paiwan singers, dancers, and multi-instrumentalists.  Gapu Ŋupan is a fully-self determined First Nations work, created and produced by Miku Performing Arts, Hui Jia Creatives, Kath Papas Productions and Artback NT Inc, and premiered at Arts Centre Melbourne as part of the Asia Topa Festival.