Queensland Theatre | Dear Brother
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Dear Brother

By Lenny Donahue and Tibian Wyles
Directed by Isaac Drandic

THE RIGHT TO A RITE OF PASSAGE. Young men from different corners of Queensland blow into the big smoke burning with unbridled energy, desire and confusion. Each of them filled with the need to escape, to make something of their lives, to defy the hand that life has dealt them. An...

THE RIGHT TO A RITE OF PASSAGE.

Young men from different corners of Queensland blow into the big smoke burning with unbridled energy, desire and confusion. Each of them filled with the need to escape, to make something of their lives, to defy the hand that life has dealt them. An individual ignition has driven them all to Brisbane but something else — something ancestral — will bring them together.

Caught between adolescence and adulthood, these young fellas will converge and wrestle with themselves, each other, their ghosts and a deep-etched sense of duty to Country. Together they’ll lay themselves bare and bond as brothers over what it means to be a young Aboriginal man in 2024.

This high energy work, presented with BlakDance as part of Brisbane Festival, is all about giving today’s young Murri men a voice, one that challenges the narrative around public perceptions of Aboriginal masculinity.

Using dance, music and poetry, this form-defying work features Djabuganjdji man Lenny Donahue and Girramay and Kalkadoon man Tibian Wyles in a tour-de-force performance that is as physical as it is heartfelt.

View Program 2024 Education Calendar

$25 BLAKTIX for First Nations community

Detailed Content Advisories

BLAKTIX are available for all performances of Dear Brother. These are discounted tickets available to people who identify — and are accepted as such by their community — as being of First Nations descent, in support of our commitment to equity and access.

  • Dates
    7 — 28 Sep
  • Location
    Bille Brown Theatre
  • Times
    Evenings: Mon & Tues 6.30pm, Wed – Sat 7.30pm
    Matinees: Wed 1.00pm, Sat 2.00pm
    Relaxed Performance: Wednesday 18 September at 1:00pm
  • Buy Tickets
  • Ticket Pricing
    Adult
    from
    $70
    Senior
    from
    $70
    Concession
    from
    $70
    Youth - 35 & Under
    from
    $35
  • Night with the Artists

    Monday 16 Sep 6.30pm

  • Duration
    1 hour and 30 minutes, no interval
  • Accessibility
    Auslan Interpreted Monday 23 Sep 6.30pm
    Audio Described Saturday 21 Sep 2.00pm
  • Play briefing

    Monday 2 Sep 6.00pm

  • Warning
    This production contains coarse language and adult themes, including depictions of violence, discrimination and racism. It also contains the use of theatrical smoke, haze and complete lighting blackouts. Recommended for ages 15+. If you or someone you know ne...

    This production contains coarse language and adult themes, including depictions of violence, discrimination and racism. It also contains the use of theatrical smoke, haze and complete lighting blackouts.


    Recommended for ages 15+.


    If you or someone you know needs information or support, these organisations are there to help:
    13YARN 13 92 76
    Lifeline
    13 11 14
    Headspace
    headspace.org.au




  • Dates
    7 — 28 Sep
  • Location
    Bille Brown Theatre
  • Times
    Evenings: Mon & Tues 6.30pm, Wed – Sat 7.30pm
    Matinees: Wed 1.00pm, Sat 2.00pm
    Relaxed Performance: Wednesday 18 September at 1:00pm
  • Buy Tickets
  • Ticket Pricing
    Adult
    from
    $70
    Senior
    from
    $70
    Concession
    from
    $70
    Youth - 35 & Under
    from
    $35
  • Night with the Artists

    Monday 16 Sep 6.30pm

  • Duration
    1 hour and 30 minutes, no interval
  • Accessibility
    Auslan Interpreted Monday 23 Sep 6.30pm
    Audio Described Saturday 21 Sep 2.00pm
  • Play briefing

    Monday 2 Sep 6.00pm

  • Warning
    This production contains coarse language and adult themes, including depictions of violence, discrimination and racism. It also contains the use of theatrical smoke, haze and complete lighting blackouts. Recommended for ages 15+. If you or someone you know ne...

    This production contains coarse language and adult themes, including depictions of violence, discrimination and racism. It also contains the use of theatrical smoke, haze and complete lighting blackouts.


    Recommended for ages 15+.


    If you or someone you know needs information or support, these organisations are there to help:
    13YARN 13 92 76
    Lifeline
    13 11 14
    Headspace
    headspace.org.au




Creatives

Co-Writers Lenny Donahue and Tibian Wyles
Director and Movement Dramaturg
Isaac Drandic
Set Designer
Kevin O’Brien
Costume Designer
Delvene Cockatoo-Collins
Lighting Designer David Walters
Composer and Sound Designer
Brendon Boney
Sound Design Realiser
Wil Hughes
Choreographer
Waangenga Blanco
Costume Mentor Nathalie Ryner

Contributing Artists

Choreography Contributors Lenny Donahue, Benjin Maza, Tibian Wyles
Collaborators Benjin Maza, Jeremy Ambrum, Sydney Narrier, Joella Warkill, Emily Wells, Merindah Donnelly
Language Collaborators Dennis Hunter, The Djabugay Community

Stage Management

Stage Manager Sarah Connolly
Assistant Stage Manager
Sophie Watkins

Cast

Ezra Lenny Donahue
Jazz
Benjin Maza
Dad/Uncle Max/Grandad
Kelton Pell
Destyn
Tibian Wyles

Play Briefing

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