MiyaAy MiyaAy: Seven Sisters Songline

The development of a staged production of the new creative work Miyaay Miyaay based on the Gamilaroi version of the Seven Sisters songline, and inspired by Country and landscape of the New England North West. A working progress performance followed by a small tour to four venues in the region.

The Seven Sisters songline is an epic narrative that spans across a vast area of Australia from the West coast through Central Australia to the North West of NSW and to Gamilaroi country. Miyaay Miyaay celebrates the Gamilaroi version of this Aboriginal story.

The work will be developed by two key Gamilaroi artists – writer Cathy Craigie and dancer Katie Leslie. A recipient of the prestigious 2016 New South Wales Aboriginal Arts Fellowship, Cathy Craigie is from the Gamilaroi and Anaiwan nations in northern NSW. She is the founding director of Koori Radio and First Nation Australia Writers Network and has written several produced plays and published two children’s books. Cathy writes short stories and works as a writing mentor and workshop facilitator.

Katie Leslie is a proud Gamilaroi and Mandandanji woman, from Moree, NSW. She has a deep passion and love for her Aboriginal culture and heritage, as well as the performing arts. She studied acting at ACPA (The Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts) and later went on to study dance at NAISDA Dance College. Since graduating she has worked for many people in different places, performing and teaching dance.

This project is supported by the NSW Government’s Creative Koori Fund through Create NSW and by the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund through Regional Arts NSW.