At the height of his fame, Namatjira’s shows sold out within minutes. If you didn’t own one of his paintings you probably had a print in your lounge room.

Malthouse Theatre presents the Melbourne premiere of NAMATJIRA playing from August 10 to 28 at the Merlyn Theatre.

A white man and an Aboriginal man sit together in a boat in a creek bed. Together they paint the landscape around them. This is the moment that captures the symbolism, the hope and the simplicity of Albert Namatjira’s friendship with his mentor, Rex Battarbee.

BigHart’s stage production of Namatjira traces the lifetime journey of our great water-colourist Albert Namatjira and in doing so reminds us of his immeasurable influence and legacy. In this production his legacy is made even more concrete by the presence of Namatjira’s own family members from his Hermansburg community on stage.

Together they draw a vast, panoramic landscape across the theatre wall, while the charasmatic Trevor Jamieson tells us Albert Namatjira's story, one written through with all the varieties of experience life can offer. From his childhood in a Lutheran mission near Alice Springs to his international successes in the art world and recognition as the first Aboriginal citizen of Australia, through to his his final years of illness and frustration.

Directed by Scott Rankin for bighART in collaboration with the community of Hermannsburg from which Namatjira came, Namatjira is the reappropriation of a story by the descendants who are its legacy, and an uplifting vision of Australia that might still come to pass.

Namatjira is part of a long term arts and community development project in Alice Springs and Hermannsburg, where bighART is working with the extended Namatjira family and communities. For more project insights, including short films created by the project visit the website.

“…a terrific mixture of narration, dance, mime and voice that is extraordinarily theatrical, articulate and expressive.”  The Australian

“Trevor Jamieson again proves himself one of the most charismatic and skillful performers on the Australian stage.” The Daily Telegraph

Book online or contact Malthouse on 03 9685 5111

Namatjira will also plays at the Drum Theatre at Dandenong Town Hall 1 to 3 September and at Geelong Performing Arts Centre 8 to 10 September.