Illume
★★★★★ — The Guardian
★★★★★ — ArtsHub
★★★★★ — AU Review
★★★★★ — Cultural Binge
Step out of the shadows and into the phenomena of light – the central life force of our planet. From the extraordinary Bangarra Dance Theatre comes an iridescent new theatrical experience, drawing together music, visual arts and dance to explore the ways light has captivated and sustained Indigenous cultural existence for millennia.
Today, artificial light pollution disrupts ecosystems and obscures the dark night sky, devastating First Nations people’s connections to sky country and limiting their ability to share celestial knowledge and skylore. First Nations people stand on the precipice of the world under threat.
Mirning Choreographer Frances Rings and Goolarrgon Bard Visual Artist Darrell Sibosado’s collaboration explores the awe of light, a bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds. It charts the impacts of light pollution in a climate emergency. Illume asks the urgent question: is the deep wisdom passed down from elders enough to illuminate a path forward from the shadows of a dark future?
Journey with us through a kaleidoscope of images, patterns and synergies into the otherworldly language of light.
PRODUCER
Bangarra Dance Theatre
Seasons
Gadigal Country — Sydney Opera House
4 – 14 June 2025
Whadjuk Noongar Boodja — Heath Ledger Theatre, Perth
10 – 13 July 2025
Kinjarling — Albany Entertainment Centre
18 July 2025
Ngunnawal Country — Canberra Theatre Centre
25 – 26 July 2025
Meanjin — Queensland Performing Arts Centre
1 – 9 August 2025
Garramilla — Darwin Entertainment Centre
15 – 16 August 2025
Wurundjeri Country — Arts Centre Melbourne
4 – 13 September 2025
Creative Team
CHOREOGRAPHERS — Frances Rings
The Dancers of Bangarra Dance Theatre
ARTISTIC & CULTURAL COLLABORATOR — Darrell Sibosado
SET DESIGNER —Charles Davis
COSTUME DESIGNER — Elizabeth Gadsby
EMERGING COSTUME DESIGNER — Rika Hamaguchi
LIGHTING DESIGNER — Damien Cooper
VIDEO DESIGNER — Craig Wilkinson
COMPOSER — Brendon Boney
CULTURAL CONSULTANTS — Trevor Sampi and Audrey (Pippi) Bin Swani
HEAD OF VIDEO & SOUND — Emjay Matthews
DEPUTY HEAD OF VIDEO & SOUND — Eden Trickett
PRODUCTION PHOTOGRAPHY – Daniel Boud
REVIEWS
★★★★★
THE GUARDIAN
★★★★★
ARTSHUB
★★★★★
AU REVIEW
★★★★★
CULTURAL BINGE
“a visually stunning kinetic artwork combining movement and music with image”
LIMELIGHT
VIDEO
Production Trailer 1:13
video by Cass Eipper