Koolbardi wer Wardong: WA Opera & BREC to host casting call for Bunbury’s young performers

Young singers will have the opportunity to be part of West Australian Opera’s first Noongar language opera when it makes its way to town later this year. Ahead of WA Opera’s performances of Koolbardi wer Wardong at the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre on August 4 and 5, an open casting call is set to be held on March 11 to find singers aged between 10 and 17 years of age to join its chorus. With applications open until midday on February 24, WA Opera and BREC will be looking for a cast of 35 performers to join the cast on stage and perform in Noongar language as the Children’s Chorus (Barna). Those chosen to take part in the auditions will be led by regional choral director Danielle Bond and assistant regional choral director Charmaine Councillor and will take part in a short interview, a series of call and response vocal exercises and choreography lessons. Director Matt Reuben James Ward said Koolbardi wer Wardong was a “really special production” and the auditions would provide an opportunity for young performers to learn music in the Noongar language. “There is something incredibly special about learning and sharing old language that has existed on this land for such a long time,” he said. “Music is the best way to learn language, and this production makes that possible. “In addition, the production involves learning traditional Barna (animal) dances and the costumes are pretty special too.” Mr Ward said he was also excited to bring the production to Bunbury later this year, hailing BREC as a “perfect place to share this precious production with more participants and audiences”. “For me, the most rewarding aspects of working on Koolbardi wer Wardong are collaborating with an amazing cast of professionals and children to produce a beautiful production that celebrates the Noongar language, keeps an ancient story alive, and provides space for people to connect, learn and share their histories,” he said. “The impact of this experience on communities and participants (children’s chorus) has been incredible — we are not pursuing a perfect product; we are pursuing the perfect moment to build people’s lives for the better.” Written by acclaimed songwriters Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse and featuring a cast of First Nations performers, Koolbardi wer Wardong follows two proud, jealous and vain brothers in Koolbardi (the magpie) and Wardong (the crow). Audiences are taken on a journey back to the Nyittiny, the time of Creation, where love, loyalty, betrayal and jealousy are all stretched to their limits. The production made its world premiere at Perth’s His Majesty’s Theatre in 2021, where it garnered rave reviews, and has since spread its wings to take flight on regional tours in Esperance, Albany, Kalgoorlie and now Bunbury. Applications to audition can be completed on the BREC website.