Indigenous Bran Nue Dae playwright dies
The Indigenous playwright who wrote acclaimed musical Bran Nue Dae has passed away at age 69.
The man has not been named for cultural reasons but is believed to have passed away in a Broome hospital, Western Australia, on Monday after ‘taking a turn,’ the ABC reported.
The playwright was born in 1948 to a Chinese-Japanese father and Scottish-Bardi mother.
Bran Nue Dae, which follows a semi-autobiographical journey relating to issues experienced by Indigenous Australians, is believed to be one of his best works
Actors Ernie Dingo (left), Rocky McKenzie (centre) and Geoffrey Rush (right) all starred in the award winning film adaptation
The Bardi people are the Indigenous Australians from the area north of Broome and parts of the Dampier Peninsular in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
Bran Nue Dae, which follows a semi-autobiographical journey relating to issues experienced by Indigenous Australians, is believed to be one of his best works.
The musical won the prestigious Sidney Myer Performing Arts Award in 1990, the same year it was released.
The following year the published manuscript and score won the Special Award in the Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards.
His famed play Bran Nue Dae was made into a well-loved feature film (pictured) in 2009 starring Jessica Mauboy, Ernie Dingo, Geoffrey Rush and Rocky McKenzie
Jessica Mauboy (left), Ningali Lawford (centre) and Missy Higgins (right) performing on stage at the after party of Bran Nue Dae’s release
He was made a WA State Living Treasure in 2004 which saw him recognised as the creator of important Indigenous theatre.
His famed play Bran Nue Dae was made into a well-loved feature film in 2009 starring Jessica Mauboy, Ernie Dingo, Geoffrey Rush and Rocky McKenzie.
The actors famously walked a ‘red dirt’ carpet at the film’s premiere in Broome and it received a rating of 57 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes.
The playwright leaves behind his partner and three children.
He was made a WA State Living Treasure in 2004 which saw him recognised as the creator of important Indigenous theatre (pictured Broome)
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