The Redfern Residents for Reconciliation in conjunction with the EORA College for Aboriginal Education and National Institute of Dramatic Arts have together organised the running of the Ephemera: The Reconciliation Monologues. This piece of dramatic art is a multimedia theatrical event that explores notions of 'Aboriginality' through six monologues written and presented by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal actors. Devised by Lisa Mare-Syron. [NSW Dept of Aboriginal Affairs]

http://www.unisyd.com/news/84.html?newsstoryid=1594

multimedia theatrical event  that explores notions of ‘Aboriginality’ through six monologues
written and presented by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal actors. Devised by Lisa Mare-Syron.

Opens 24 th May until 4th June at NIDA, Randwick

http://www.nswrecon.com/about_us/0505_NSWRC_Newsletter.pdf

Liza-Mare Syron, as the co-ordinator of theatre performance and practice at the Eora Centre of Visual and Performing Arts, is presenting Ephemera: The Reconciliation Monologues as part of Reconciliation Week. First initiated as part of Syron's masters thesis, Ephemera presents indigenous and non-indigenous performers together on stage, a process she believes is integral to reconciliation.

"Aboriginal theatre is an act of reconciliation," Syron says. "[Theatre is] a place where you can have ideas and notions and assumptions and other forms of Aboriginality can be discussed and explored and experienced."

Syron believes theatre initiates a dialogue between indigenous and non-indigenous people and therefore they both feel part of the reconciliation process. Recognising that much of white Australia still has limited contact with the Aboriginal population, she aims to challenge that notion of distance.

For Syron, a descendent of Tuncurry's Biripi tribe and a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts, the theatre is the best place to facilitate change. "[The theatre] allows people to come into a safe environment where they can experience something," she says. "There is still fear around difference in Australia, there always has been. It just changes colour. It's not to say Australian people don't want to make contact, I think they really, really do. It's just that the way to make contact is not necessarily given to them. [Theatre] provides the space for experiences to be explored and then the audience can think about that themselves."

The stages of change SMH May 22, 2005
http://www.smh.com.au/news/Entertainment/The-stages-of-change/2005/05/22/1116700581562.html

New Indigenous Voices 2007

Ephemera: The Reconciliation Monologues
Conceived by Liza-Mare Syron (Biripi) and the students at Eora College of Aboriginal Studies, Centre For Visual and Performing Arts, Sydney, Australia featuring Sonny-Dallas Law (Wakka Wakka) and directed by Kaipo Schwab (Native Hawaiian). Sonny-Dallas, from the original Sydney production will perform with Native American actors; a multi-media production incorporating the performance of monologues, movement and dance with video presenting people's experiences of what "being Aboriginal", and what "reconciliation", means, both to indigenous and non-indigenous communities. Ephemera won the 2005 Philip Parsons Prize for Performance as Research.

There will be two staged readings and post-show discussions of Ephemera with Liza-Marie Syron, Sonny-Dallas Law and invited Indigenous speakers.

Date: Tuesday, May 22 at 8pm with reception following
Venue: The Club at La MaMa E.T.C., E. 4th St. (betw. 2nd Ave & Bowery)
Reservations: Call 212.533.0889 or email koughtred@aol.com or contact us. Performance is FREE with suggested donation.

Date: Wednesday, May 23 at 1:15pm
Venue: Dag Hammarskjold Library Auditorium at the United Nations Building during the Annual Forum On Indigenous Issues, UN HQ East 46th St. at 1st Avenue. Reservations are required for this event and close May 11. Please call 212.533.0889 or koughtred@aol.com or contact us.
Performance is FREE with suggested donation.

Biographies

Liza-Mare Syron (Biripi) (Playwright) is a theatre educator and director and a descendent from the Biripi people of Tuncurry NSW. A graduate of the Victorian College of Arts 1990 (VCA), she has completed her Masters in Creative Arts Research at Wollongong University (UOW) focusing her research on Australian Indigenous acting processes. Her teaching qualifications include a Masters in Adult Education (UTS) and a Graduate Diploma in Adult Education. Other training qualifications include a Certificate in Playwriting (NIDA), Certificate in Small Theatre Production (NIDA) and the Integrated Theatre Management Program (DEET) and has just received a scholarship to study for a Doctoral degree at the University of Sydney. She is a recipient of an Australia Day Award in 1998 for Community Event of the Year (South Sydney Council) and winner of the 2005 Teaching Excellence award from the NSW Department of Education and Training, 2005 Mentor Award Sydney Institute TAFE NSW, and the 2005 ADS Philip Parsons award for Performance as Research. Liza-Mare is the current coordinator for the Theatre Performance and Practice Course at the Eora College of Aboriginal Studies, Centre for Visual and Performing Arts Redfern.

http://www.aboriginaltheatre.com/2007-projects.php

  EPHEMERA The Reconciliation Monologues.

Ephemera is a multimedia theatrical event that explores notions of ‘Aboriginality’ through six monologues written and presented by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal actors. Devised by Lisa Mare-Syron, a descendant of Aboriginal Australia and theatre coordinator at The Eora Centre for Visual and Performing Arts in Redfern Sydney.

Ephemera questions mainstream and Aboriginal communities on where they position themselves in relation to notions of Aboriginality and the concept of reconciliation. Ephemera is inspired by prominent writers such as Marcia Langton and Helen Gilbert.

Ephemera is an Indigenous work although it relies on the contribution, performance and participation of non-Indigenous performers who have united to present this timely production. The actors interviewed members of the general public from various areas of Sydney from the North Shore to the Western Suburbs on issues of reconciliation and what Aboriginality means to Australians in 2005. The collected interviews and the personal experiences of the actors have formulated this theatrical presentation.

Ephemera is critique on the efforts and effects of the reconciliation movement and allows for an exciting intercultural and theatrical experience between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal actors and audience. The music is composed by Indigenous musicians and utilises contemporary and traditional themes.

What does Aboriginality mean to both indigenous and non-indigenous people? What are the realities of Aboriginality and reconciliation? What is the very personal experience of Aboriginality and what is reconciliation? Ephemera explores these questions.

First presented in 2004 at Eora College for Visual and Performing Arts Ephemera received high acclaim with encouragement from The NSW Reconciliation Council and is to be presented as part of Reconciliation Week 2005.

This project is produced by the Eora Centre for Visual and Performing Arts in association with The Redfern Residents for Reconciliation. It is sponsored by the Ranndwick City Council and NSW Reconciliation Council.

With Respect

Liza-Mare Syron

Coordinator

Theatre Performance and Practice

Eora Centre of Visual and Performing Arts