The original and moving music theatre piece Blackbird will debut next month at JUTE Theatre as part of the official program of the Cairns Festival and Cairns Indigenous Art Fair.

Blackbird is the epic tale of six generations of inspirational women, told in song by the youngest daughter of this North Queensland family.

Blackbird stars 26-year-old Megan Sarmardin, a talented Indigenous artist whose moving songs are based on the memories of her great grandmother Flora, 94.

Born and raised in Mt Isa, Megan's powerful vocals bring to the stage the dramatic history of a proud Aboriginal family that traces its roots to the earliest Russian Czars on one side, and on the other to the ancient Ngadjon-ji tribe that has lived on the Atherton Tablelands since time immemorial.

Blackbird celebrates resilience, courage, humour and family through the stories of six strong female characters.

“These are the stories that have always been with me, because they are passed down. It is a good thing to know where you came from, because then you know where you are going,” said Megan.

Flora's mother Kitty fell in love with Russian migrant Leandro Illin. In 1915 they walked from Butcher’s Creek near Malanda to Innisfail to be married, defying the law and both black and white societies. Kitty's mother, Emily, was one of the only Ngadjon-ji elders to remain living around Malanda after the rainforest tribes were taken to settlements. In 1955 and aged in her 90s, Kitty was snatched from her country to Palm Island, where she died.

Blackbird represents a five-year creative mentorship for Megan, guided by Composer and Co-writer John Rodgers, Creative Producer Leah Cotterell and Director Sean Mee, former Artistic Director of Brisbane's La Boite. Megan is accompanied in performance by Jamie Clark, one of Australia’s most versatile and experienced guitarists.

"This production has been more than five years in the making. The thing about Blackbird is that there are just so many stories to tell,” said Creative Producer Leah Cotterell.

Blackbird will run from August 20-28 at JUTE Theatre, North Queensland's leading theatre company. It is part of the Cairns Festival's official program and also an official event of the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair.

Find more information on Blackbird, and purchase tickets, here.