'Seven senior law men, in fine suits, meet on the shores of a harbour to discuss the 11 large boats that have just arrived. Should they be welcomed to country or should these seven clan representatives of the Dharug nation, people from what became known as Sydney, combine to get rid of the unwelcome visitors? They take a vote – it must be unanimous – and one of them reckons the visitors mightn’t be all bad. This is a powerful, imaginative response to the beginnings of modern Australia.' (Production summary)
'We join seven Aboriginal Elders in 1788 as they meet ‘The Visitors’.
;Imbued with Aboriginal customs, melody and humour from composer Christopher Sainsbury and libretto by original playwright and Muruwari woman, Jane Harrison, it tells the story of the early days of colonialism and its impacts on the First Peoples. Through metaphors of birds falling from the sky and changes to the weather, we watch as the Elders question how to respond to ‘the visitors’.'
Source: Production blurb.
Presented by Melbourne Theatre Company and performed as part of the Melbourne Indigenous Arts Festival, 6-8 February 2014.
Director: Leah Purcell
Cast: Sermsah Bin Saad, Kamahi Djordon King, Greg Fryer, James Henry, Glenn Maynard, Leroy Parsons, and Glenn Shea.
Developed with the assistance of Moogahlin Theatre Company. Performed as part of the Sydney Festival, 22-26 January 2020.
Cast: John Blair, Damion Hunter, Colin Kinchela, Nathan Leslie, Leroy Parsons, Glenn Shea, and Kerri Simpson.
Director: Frederick Copperwaite.
Producer: Liza-Mare Syron.
Lighting Designer: Chloe Ogilvie.
Sound Designer: Phil Downing.
Community Liaison & Assistant Sound Designer: Timothy Gray.
Production Manager: Liv Anstis.
Assistant Producer: Corrine Shepherd.
Set and Costume Designer: Lisa Mimmochi.
Presented by Moogahlin Performing Arts and Sydney Theatre Company at Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House, 11 September - 14 October 2023.
Director: Wesley Enoch.
Cast: Wiradjuri actor Luke Carroll, Wiradjuri and Gamilaraay actor Beau Dean Riley Smith, and Gumbaynggirr and Wiradjuri actor Dalara Williams.
Moogahlin Performing Arts and Sydney Theatre Company production presented at Merrigong Theatre Company (IMB Theatre), 25-28 October 2023.
'Victorian Opera's adaptation of Jane Harrison's novel and play leads audiences to new ways of thinking about opera and Australia’s rich history.'
'Sydney Festival has really outdone themselves this season with a spectacular line-up of Indigenous shows to choose from including The Visitors.'
'Sydney Festival has really outdone themselves this season with a spectacular line-up of Indigenous shows to choose from including The Visitors.'
'Victorian Opera's adaptation of Jane Harrison's novel and play leads audiences to new ways of thinking about opera and Australia’s rich history.'
