Brown's Mart

🏡 New to Brown’s Mart? Here’s 3 facts about us.

We kicked off NAIDOC week with young people in our Brown's Mart Studio, workshopping and learning with some great artists and reflecting on this year's NAIDOC theme: Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud 🙌.
Kuya James Shellie Morris Music Melanie Mununggurr, Riley P and Mayalabol Tahlia Biggs City of Darwin

To end NAIDOC Week, meet Tahlia Biggs, our First Nations Community Engagement Coordinator!

Tahlia is a proud Barkindji Nhuungku and Ngiyamppa Wangaaypuwan, born and raised on Wiradjuri and Duduroa country. With a wealth of diverse experience in youth engagement, community development, leadership programming, and advocacy, Tahlia is determined to amplify voices and reshape narratives through storytelling.

Tahlia also performed in "The 7 Stages of Grieving" by Wesley Enoch and Deborah Mailman, produced by Brown's Mart, and "Bungambrawatha" in collaboration with Black Border Theatre and HotHouse Theatre and is developing a new work through our 2024 BUILD UP program called 'So What Now?'

➡️To learn more about Brown's Mart's team and the BUILD UP program, head to our website!
➡️ To learn more about NAIDOC Week and what's going on in your area, head to https://www.naidoc.org.au/!

To continue celebrating NAIDOC Week, we want you to meet Rosealee Pearson-Grimes, one of the members of our First Nations Advisory Group.
🙌 Rosealee Pearson is a Yolngu woman from Yirrkala in Northeast Arnhem Land. She has worked across many art discplines as a Director, Dancer, Actor, Tour Manager, Event Coordinator, Stage Manager, Choreographer, Writer, Cultural Consultant, Producer, Festival Coordinator, Weaver and Artist.

🌊 In 2024, Rosealee is the Director and Choreographer of 'the one of a kind performance experience, 'Song Spirals,' which is having its world premiere season in the Darwin Festival running 6-11 August in the Brown's Mart Theatre.

➡️ To learn more about Song Spirals and our First Nations Advisory Group, head to our website!
➡️ To learn more about NAIDOC Week and what's going on in your area, head to https://www.naidoc.org.au/!

Meet Rachael Chisholm, one of our First Nations Advisory Group.

Rachael Chisholm is a First Nations actor, playwright and broadcaster from Darwin. Since graduating from drama school, she has worked mostly in broadcasting as a presenter, voiceover artist and editor.

In 2018, Rachael took part in the ATYP Fresh Ink mentoring program for emerging writers, which led to her selection for our 2019 BUILD UP development program to work on a new First Nations play. She is currently working on a new play, Alien, with Betty Sweetlove and Ciella Williams.

➡️To learn more about Brown's Mart's First Nations Advisory, head to our website!
➡️ To learn more about NAIDOC Week and what's going on in your area, head to https://www.naidoc.org.au/!

🔥 Many of you will know Rob Collins, a member of Brown's Mart's First Nations Advisory Group and a Brown’s Mart Board Member.

Born and raised in Darwin from a Tiwi Islands background, Rob Collins graduated from the National Institute for Dramatic Arts in 2013. With credits in film, television, and theatre, Rob brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the board.

➡️To learn more about Brown's Mart's First Nations Advisory and Board, head to our website!
➡️ To learn more about NAIDOC Week and what's going on in your area, head to https://www.naidoc.org.au/!

🔥 To continue NAIDOC week, we want you to meet Nadine Lee, a member of our First Nations Advisory Group and one of our Artistic Associates!

Nadine Lee is from the Gulumerridjin (Larrakia), Wardaman and Karajarri peoples of NT and WA with Asian and European ancestry. Born and raised in Darwin from a large artistic and cultural family she has been a practicing artist since graduating with a Bachelor of Creative Arts and Industries (Visual Arts) from Charles Darwin University. She is a multi-disciplinary artist who has shown in local and National exhibitions.

We're privileged and honoured to have her on the First Nations Advisory Group and bringing her extensive experience as an arts leader and creator to Brown's Mart.

➡️To learn more about Brown's Mart's First Nations Advisory, head to our website!
➡️ To learn more about NAIDOC Week and what's going on in your area, head to https://www.naidoc.org.au/!

Our 2024 Performance Partner, Darwin Festival, launched their program in May and it’s got us so excited for August!

From our joint presentation of the Wolrd Premiere of Rosealee Pearson's Song Spirals to returning Darwin Fringe Festival favourite Manifesto of Saltwater Women with Melanie Mununggurr and Juran Timu-Adams, there will be 6 exciting shows that you can enjoy at Brown's Mart during the 3 week festival.

Tickets can be booked via their website or by visiting the Tourism Top End Visitor centre: https://www.darwinfestival.org.au

🔥In honour of NAIDOC Week, Brown's Mart acknowledge some of the incredible First Nations people who guide us and contribute to our work. First, we want to highlight our Honorary Elder, Dr Bilawara Lee OAM (Aunty B).

Brown’s Mart is honoured to have Aunty B as our Honorary Elder.

Aunty B is a Senior Elder of the Larrakia Nation - Cubillo family. She is Larrakia Academic in Residence for Charles Darwin University, received an Honorary Doctor of Letter (Honoris Causa) in May 2023, and the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2024.

Brown's Mart has long been home to important Gulumerridjin Larrakia stories, artists and creatives. In 2023 Aunty B became our Honorary Elder and we deeply appreciate the ongoing leadership, advice and guidance that she provides.

➡️To learn more about Aunty B, head to our website!
➡️ To learn more about NAIDOC Week and what's going on in your area, head to https://www.naidoc.org.au/ !

We're reminiscing back to last month with out PlayFull retrospective of His Own Special Friend by Dino Hodge, so we have created a recommended list of 3 must-reads to learn more! You can find these books at Library & Archives NT, and the essay is up for free download via the web.

🟠 “Did you meet any malagas?: A homosexual history of Australia's tropical capital” by Dino Hodge, 1993.

🟠 “Malaga to malaga, man to man : Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander HIV/AIDS research report / by Gary Lee” for Danila Dilba Health Service Medical Service and Northern Territory AIDS & Hepatitis Council, 1996.

🟠 “Gay Perspectives II: Peopling the Empty Mirror: The Prospects for Le***an and Gay Aboriginal History” an essay from multiple contributors, 1993

With 36 shows and events happening across the venue in only 10 days it can be hard to decide what to check at this years Darwin Fringe Festival. Here's 6 show at the Brown's Mart Fringe Hub that you might be interested in.

The full program can be found online or copies can be collected from the courtyard anytime we’re open.

🐊 MAD ARE WE
A blends of live performance with soundscape to explore autistic female experience in the context of a coming of age q***r love story. This new theatre work is currently in development.
13 & 14 July, Brown’s Mart Studio
$15

🐊 WHAT WE DO WITH WORDS
This emerging writers’ group has been giving each other encouragement over the last year and a half. As a result, they have selected short stories to read about the NT, Darwin, what’s changed what hasn’t and how they manage here.
13 July, Brown’s Mart Theatre
$7.50 - $15

🐊 THE NESTMAKERS BY BETTY SWEETLOVE - A PLAYREADING
A time capsule of climate anxieties, a resting place for your doom and gloom. A funny and sad play about culpability and climate, bunkers and billionaires.
14 July, Brown’s Mart Theatre
$10 - $15

🐊 SURVIVAL OF THE UNFITTEST
Experience 30 minutes of uproarious laughter with Eli Bacher & Matteo Bonson. Wit, satire, and hilarity await.
16 & 17 July, Brown’s Mart Studio
$7.50 - $15

🐊 FLOOPY’S FUZZLED FEELINGS
Floopy’s a little monster with big feelings! Performed by Jasmine Story and Betty Sweetlove, this show is an interactive, multi-sensory journey for 4-7 year olds. Join Floopy and Fizz as they uncover strategies for recognising and responding to big emotions.
19 & 20 July, Brown’s Mart Theatre
$10 - $15

🐊 THEATRE NETWORK AUSTRALIA - NT PERFORMING ARTS GATHERING
Theatre Network Australia is the peak body for Independent performing arts in Australia. They are coming to Darwin Fringe to hold a gathering for the NT performing arts sector and welcome professional artists from all performing disciplines, arts workers, and organisation representatives to join them for a yarn about what artists and arts workers need to thrive in the Territory and beyond.
20 July, Brown’s Mart Studio
Free

darwinfringe.org.au

Ancient Yolŋu rhythm and songs are brought to life through stunning movement in a world premiere dance event. A feast for the senses, Song Spirals invites you to experience the language, culture and Country of creator Rosealee Pearson through music, dance and projections.

Composed by Andrew Grimes, the music uses the ancient sounds of the Milkarri in contemporary compositions, as the dancers become the canvas for stunning visuals created by Video Artist, Naina Sen.

Inspired by the 2020 award-winning book written by the Gay’wu group of women, Song Spirals blends the Yolŋu women’s role in crying the ancient Milkarri (song spirals) with movement that spells out Yolŋu Matha language through the dancers’ bodies.

The result transports you to the heart of Yolŋu country for a sensory experience that combines age-old tradition with contemporary creativity.

6-11 August, various times

By Rosealee Pearson
World Premiere Season A Brown’s Mart production presented with the Darwin Festival

Tickets are on sale now via the Darwin Festival website and box office: https://brownsmart.com.au/songspirals/

On the eve of National NAIDOC week, hear new music and poems from young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists that they have created in the Guyugwa free workshops series.

Guyugwa: Performance Showcase
Sunday 7 July, 6-8.30pm
Tickets on sale now online via the website or on the door if not sold out: https://bma1.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/135316

🖤💛❤️ These workshops are delivered to celebrate the 2024 NAIDOC Week, a program collaboration between Mayalabol and Browns Mart, supported by the City of Darwin.

Kuya James RileyP Shellie Morris Music Youth NT LAUNCH Darwin Chansey Paech: Member for Gwoja

The Gifts is one of three new scripts being read at Tremors this weekend.

🟠 Jeffrey Jay Fowler is a playwright, dramaturg, director and actor. He wrote and acted in award winning shows A History of Drinking and ELEPHENTS. He has performed in and co-created FAG/STAG (winner Scotsman Fringe First 2017, Edinburgh Festival Fringe ), BALI, THE ADVISORS, PERPETUAL WAKE, ALL THAT GLITTERS and LÉ NØR [THE RAIN] with The Last Great Hunt, of which he is a founding artist. His other plays include MINNIE AND MONA PLAY DEAD, PRICE TAG, THE ONE, Second Hands, Hope is the saddest, and IMPROVEMENT CLUB. Among the shows he has directed are Girl Shut Your Mouth, Blithe Spirit, The Eisteddfod (winner 2017 PAWA Best Director and Best Mainstage Play), and In The Next Room, or The Vi****or Play for Black Swan State Theatre Company. Jeffrey Jay was Associate Director of Black Swan from 2014 to 2017, and then he was their Director of New Writing for 2018 and 19. His postgraduate studies were in directing at National Institute of Dramatic Art in 2010. In 2020 Jeffrey Jay was awarded the NT Literary Award for The Hypotheticals which he co-wrote with Sarah Reuben.

🟠 Sarah Reuben is an award winning writer, performer and theatre-maker. Sarah co-wrote: The Hypotheticals (Darwin Festival, Artback NT Tour, The Last Great Hunt Perth), Lower The Bar (Darwin Entertainment Centre, ArtBack NT tour), I’ll Tell you in Person (Darwin Festival, Perth Festival), This Jew Sits (Melbourne Fringe), Death Party (Melbourne Fringe), Short Change (Melbourne Fringe, Fringe World Festival) and Best (Melbourne Fringe, Fringe World). Her performance credits include; New Babylon (Knock ‘Em Down Theatre), The Laramie Project (Black Swan State Theatre Company), Pollyanna (Weeping Spoon Productions), How I Learned to Drive (Mockingbird Theatre Company & Acting Studio) and The Hurting Game (Brainstorm Productions). Sarah is a co-creator of the nationally touring show Shania Choir, creator of the webseries Deadly Tales and 2020 was awarded the NT Literary Award for The Hypotheticals, which she co-wrote with Jeffrey Jay Fowler.

⭐
Tremors
Sunday 30 June 2024, 2:30pm - 4:00pm

🧏 The performance will be interpreted in Auslan by Auslan Stage Left

Presented by Brown’s Mart and the NT Writers' Centre as part of the NT Writers Festival

Tickets on sale now via the NT Writer’s Festival Website or on the door if not sold out: https://www.ntwriters.com.au/nt-writers-festival/tickets/?festival_page=event&id=110978

Their first full length solo spoken word album will feature both English and Yolŋu language as she reflects on the triumphs and struggles of motherhood, neurodiversity, being q***r and connections to land and culture.

In this intimate showing award winning artist Melanie Mununggurr will give you behind the scenes stories about the process and inspiration as well as challenges faced in producing this body of work.

⭐ ONE NIGHT ONLY
Studio Sounds: MELANIE MUNUNGGURR
Thursday 4 July, 7.30-8.30pm
Tickets on sale now or available at the door if not otherwise sold out: https://bma1.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/131428

Alien is one of three new scripts being read at Tremors this weekend as a part of the NT Writers Festival.

🟠 Rachael Chisholm is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts practitioner who lives in Darwin, on Larrakia country. Rachael has worked predominately in broadcasting as a presenter, editor, script writer and producer. She has also worked in filmed and television, on productions such as Top End Wedding and Barrumbi Kids. In 2021 Rachael was made a founding member of Browns Mart Theatre First Nations Artistic Advisory Group. The group is dedicated to the development of First Nation talents, stories, and audiences in the Northern Territory arts sector. When not working full time, Rachael dedicates her time working on developments of new works for theatre and film as an actor, playwright, dramaturg, and cultural consultant.

🟠 Betty Sweetlove is a playwright and performer based in Mparntwe (Alice Springs). Recent writing and dramaturgy credits include Odyssey for Marian Street Theatre (2023), Wired Differently (2023) and REBIRTH (2022) for Zen Zen Zo. Betty was awarded an Arts NT Varuna Fellowship in 2021 for her play The Nestmakers, which premiered at the Desert Festival last year. She was a Fresh Ink writer with Australian Theatre for Young People (atyp) and her monologue Swallows was published by Currency Press (2020). Betty is interested in making theatre that intervenes in the historical record and generates moments of collective joy.

🟠 Ciella is a writer, dramaturg, performer and mother of two living on Larrakia Country. Her writing is embedded in the NT and concerned with underrepresented voices and stories, particularly of young women and girls. This year she is undertaking a year-long writers' residency at Corrugated Iron. She is a member of the IGNITE Collective, an initiative of New Ghosts Theatre Company to create new work for women aged 20-30. Her full-length work Hush premiered in 2022, and was shortlisted for the Glenda Adams Award for New Writing at the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards, and the 2020 NT Literary Awards in the Drama category. Earlier works have been performed at Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP), Brown’s Mart Theatre, Darwin Fringe Festival and Short+Sweet Sydney. Ciella works as a freelance dramaturg, and ran the ATYP Fresh Ink program for emerging NT writer from 2018-2021.

⭐ Tremors Sunday 30 June 2024, 2:30pm - 4:00pm

🧏 The performance will be interpreted in Auslan by Auslan Stage Left

It's the final Live on Friday's this week with Kat & Chris.

Kathryn and Chris are local Darwin musicians who currently form half of the pop rock act Kathryn and the Overbytes.

🏡🎵
Free entry, just come on by!
Family friendly
Bar opens from 4.30pm
5-7 PM in the Brown’s Mart Courtyard

As part of the NAIDOC Week program, the Guyugwa workshops are free for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people aged 12-25, with registration highly recommended. The final showcase will be a ticketed event with concession/unwaged (student) and community pricing available.

3 x three day workshops from 5-7 July:
🔸 Songwriting Workshops Facilitated By Dr. Shellie Morris Music
🔸 Spoken Word Workshops Facilitated By Melanie Mununggurr
🔸 Hip-Hop & Rap Workshops Facilitated By Kuya James & RileyP

People can attend one workshop or multiple. No experience necessary.

For more information, workshop registration and showcase ticket purchases head to our website: https://brownsmart.com.au/guyugwa/

⚫🟡🔴
These workshops are delivered to celebrate the 2024 National NAIDOC Week, a program collaboration between Mayalabol and Browns Mart, supported by the City of Darwin.

Larrakia Nation Teabba - Top End Aboriginal Bush Broadcasting Association Youth NT MusicNT NT Writers' Centre Starwin Social Enterprise Northern Territory Music School LAUNCH Darwin Chansey Paech: Member for Gwoja Territory Families, Housing and Communities Ngaree Ah Kit: Member for Karama Off The Leash Activate Darwin

Genius is one of three new scripts being read at Tremors next weekend.

Sandra Thibodeaux is an award-winning playwright and poet. She has written 20 plays that have been staged across Australia and SE Asia, and broadcast on Radio National. Her latest plays include Calls to 1194, The Age of Bones and Mr Takahashi (and other falling secrets). Sandra has won the NT Literary Awards three times for her plays, and has been short-listed for the Patrick White, Griffin and Green Room Awards Association awards. Sandra has published four collections of poetry, with the latest being Dirty H2O (Mulla Mulla Press). In 2011, she was Australia Poetry’s Poet-in-Residence and, in 2022, she received a BR Whiting Studio residency (Rome).

⭐
Tremors
Sunday 30 June 2024
2:30pm - 4:00pm

🧏 The performance will be interpreted in Auslan by Auslan Stage Left with support from Deaf Connect made possible thanks to generous support through the Northern Territory Government’s funding for Accessible Arts projects.

Presented by Brown’s Mart and the NT Writers' Centre as part of the NT Writers Festival

Tickets on sale now via the NT Writer's Festival Website or on the door if not sold out.

👋 Meet Jules - the other emerging arts workers currently getting practical experience with our business thanks to the Arts NT NXT Gen ARTS program.

Jules Gabor is an ambitious creative who is passionate about creating safe places for young people to thrive in the performing arts. She is an emerging artist who has involved in the arts space as a dancer with PSYCHE Dance Crew, a Pathways Participant at Corrugated Iron and a Youth Dance Leader at Tracks Dance Company. Beyond the arts, Jules is also champions for youth opportunity as a youth advocate and the host of the upcoming podcast 'Heart to Heart: Stories Unleashed,' launching in late 2024.

"I'm honoured to be joining the team as an NXT Gen ARTS participant alongside Keszia Fernandez! As someone who has been coming to Brown's Mart for school excursions and watching productions, it's surreal to be behind the scenes seeing how it all happens and learning more about the industry I care so deeply about."

Territory Families, Housing and Communities Youth NT LAUNCH Darwin

ON FRIDAY | Fanciful plays Live on Fridays

Jaemie Page is a Darwin based singer songwriter performing as a soloist and with Lewis Parsons and other special guests around Darwin as Fanciful, a musical exploration celebrating the wild and beautiful places and spaces around us.

🏡🎵
Free entry, just come on by!
Family friendly
Bar opens from 4.30pm
5-7 PM in the Brown’s Mart Courtyard

👋 Meet Keszia - one of two emerging arts workers currently getting practical experience with our business thanks to the Arts NT NXT Gen ARTS program.

Keszia Fernandez is a multifaceted musician known for her role in the dynamic two-person band, Reverie. In 2023, the band achieved significant recognition by clinching the top spot in the Battle of the School Bands under the solo/duo category and winning the Best Song award. Their electrifying performances have taken place at various recognised events such as Territory Day, the Darwin Festival and the NTMS Beat Festival, captivating audiences with their unique sound and magnetic stage presence. With a passion for creating unforgettable music experiences and building a sense of community through music, Keszia Fernandez continues to better her artistic craft by exploring different avenues in the music scene as an emerging artist and mentor.

"Brown's Mart has such an amazing energy and I can't wait to see what the rest of the placement brings! I can't say I grew up as a theatre kid but I'd love to be a Brown's Mart's kid. Grateful to be on this journey with Jules Gabor 🙂"

Territory Families, Housing and Communities Youth NT LAUNCH Darwin

Melanie's voice encompasses her identity as Yolŋu; the triumphs and struggles of motherhood, neurodiversity, being q***r and connections to land and culture. A collection of spoken word songs produced into the world through close knit collaborations with local Territory producers.

Thursday 4 July, 7.30PM - 8.30PM
Brown’s Mart Studio

🎟️ Tickets are limited and previous Studio Sounds gigs have sold out so we recommend buying online.

Applications close at midnight on Monday 17 June for our new Business Devlopment manager role. To find out more about this opportunity head to our website and see the Work With Us page: https://brownsmart.com.au/work-with-us/

'Guyugwa' - meaning fire in Larrakia, honours the 2024 National NAIDOC theme 'Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud!'

After three days of workshops you can see emerging artists share new music, lyrics and spoken word poetry on stage in a special one night performance.

We’ve teamed up with Mayalabol thanks to support from the City of Darwin NAIDOC Week grant program to deliver a jam packed weekend of opportunity for aspiring performers called Guyugwa.

Know an emerging creative aged 15-25* who is interested in music, hip-hop or poetry? Registrations for the free workshops are now open online via the website.

Tickets for the showcase can be purchased online or on the box office before the show – if not otherwise sold out: https://brownsmart.com.au/guyugwa/

*This workshop series is only for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people however everyone is welcome to attend the showcase.

THIS WEEK | Leash and the Dusty Boots plays Live on Fridays

Leash and The Dusty Boot(s) are Alicia Scobie (vocals/guitar), and Tim Webb (backing vocals/guitar). They play an array of original tunes that sit somewhere between alternative country, blues and folk.

🏡🎵
Free entry, just come on by!
Family friendly
Bar opens from 4.30pm
5-7 PM in the Brown’s Mart Courtyard

Meet IΩANNA, a Greek-Australian artist, blends traditional sculpture techniques with contemporary concepts. Her artistic journey spans studies in Italy, New York, international residencies and exhibitions. Based in the Northern Territory, IΩANNA delves into the convergence of nature and technology. She shares her practice through teaching metal casting using recycled aluminium, and showcasing the vitality of stone carving in live performances. IΩANNA's work captivates audiences with the brutal and beautiful potentialities of the future, mutated.

IΩANNA will be creating alongside the duo Gogo Bumhole aka Siobhan Gibbs and Small Paul aka Esther Dougherty at PEX on Friday.

Tickets are available online and on the door if not otherwise sold out.

Did you know that there will be 36 events and shows held at Brown’s Mart over the 10 days 🤯 that’s more than 50 individual performances in one place.

We have been a big supporter of the Fringe over the years and enjoy being a part of providing a platform to so many emerging, independent and experimental artists.

🐊 Snap up the 2024 Darwin Fringe Festival program now!

Tickets can be purchased through their website online or by getting in touch with their box office team.

Oh and don’t forget that there’s plenty of programs available in the courtyard for pick up anytime.

Featured image thanks to Rachael Chisholm

You, on stage in the Brown’s Mart Theatre.
It could happen right now.

ENGAGE offers sponsored one-week bookings in the Brown’s Mart Theatre or Studio, with $10,000 worth of venue and marketing support for your show provided by Brown’s Mart!

We think that our audiences are the most creative people in town. So, if you have a community group, theatre collective, or variety troupe looking for a three-night season, we’ll partner with you to provide the venue and the expertise to make it happen.

Two ENGAGE subsidies are available in October and November 2024.

Apply now via the website: https://brownsmart.com.au/engage/

Chansey Paech: Member for Gwoja

TODAY | Pearl: Live on Fridays

Formed from the depths of shared musical passion, Pearl is a captivating duo comprising Evan on acoustic guitar and the enchanting, soul-stirring vocals of Jemima.

🏡🎵
Free entry, just come on by!
Family friendly
Bar opens from 4.30pm
5-7 PM in the Brown’s Mart Courtyard