MAY 18: 2021 Barangaroo and the Eora Fisherwomen: History High Tales (4)
Presented by Historic Houses Association & City of Sydney

A packed and enthusiastic crowd joined Marlene accompanied by Rex Goh on guitar and featuring special guest Leroy Cummins for an hour of music and entertainment from 4:45pm to 5:45pm followed at 6pm - 7.15pm with Talks by Amanda Reynolds and Anna Clark. Amanda Reynolds introduces Barangaroo - a powerful Lore Woman - a Cammeraygal woman who lived during the time of the British invasion of Sydney. Anna Clark tells of the fisherwomen who sailed the harbour and takes us on a journey to reveal histories of these master skippers, navigating their boats in the swell, hauling in fish, and wrangling infants in their tiny vessels. Event Details.

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JAN 15-17: 2021 Sydney Festival: Musical Microparks in Erskineville

Ensemble Offspring's Pop Up events performed in inner-city microparks for Sydney Festival

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Aunty Marlene Cummins and Bree van Reyk, perform an homage to the history of Indigenous blues singers of the 20th century. Accompanied by van Reyk on the vibraphone, Cummins sang three songs, two of which were made famous by Indigenous singer Georgia Lee in the 1950s and 60s. Down Under Blues and Yarra River Blues. The third piece, Pemulwuy, composed by Cummins, tells the story of the indigenous warrior of the same name. This piece was more personal and performed with fire.'

A review by Michael Kaufmann Limelight magazine January 16, 2021

​NOV 22: 2020 'The Story of the Miracles at Cookie's Table' by Wesley Enoch

A play reading directed by Shari Sebbens featuring Marlene Cummins, Wesley Patten, Angeline Penrith and Guy Simon.

As part of celebrating 50 Years of the Stables, Griffin presented a series of rehearsed play readings across 2020 of seminal works from the Stables’ canon. The readings were hosted by theatre aficionado John McCallum. The final play reading for the year was Wesley Enoch’s The Story of the Miracles at Cookie’s Table. Shari Sebbens directed this reading of Wesley Enoch’s powerful family drama exploring culture lived, lost and found, the strength of family, and the binding power of stories.

​NOV 12-14: 2020 O.A.SIS at 107 Redfern

Marlene Performs her One Woman Show

New normal, back to normal, no normal. How we’ve missed the heady and sweaty and joyous euphoria of live performance! O.A.SIS is a moment of collective relief. O.A.SIS is an acknowledgment of the generations of women that hold us in hard times. O.A.SIS is a collective exhale with local artists in Redfern. O.A.SIS is a reflection back to the wisdom of original ancestors. Join us for an evening of performance in radical restoration! Marlene will perform each night between 9:30 -10:00pm at 107 Redfern. Event Details

​NOV 4: 2020 NGARRA-BURRIA 2020 at Old 505

Featuring New Works by Marlene Cummins 

Marlene was honoured this year to be part of the Ngarra-Burria artist development program initiated by Dharug composer Chris Sainsbury. During the lock down Marlene collaborated via zoom with Chris and the other participants Nardi Simpson, James Henry,  Eric Avery and Will Kepa writing new music that premiered at the Old 505 theatre at Newtown. The works of the 2020 Ngarra-Burria composers are performed by program partner Ensemble Offspring. NGARRA-BURRIA ARE DHARUG WORDS MEANING “TO HEAR, TO SING”. Event Details.

​JULY 18: 2020 LIVE AT BUTCHERS BREW

Marlene Cummins & Band Live & Streaming

Marlene and her All Star Band featuring Rex Goh (guitar), Noel Elmowy (keys), Craig Calhoun (bass), Calvin Welch (drums) and special guest Jason Morphett (sax) are back performing live at Butchers Brew Bar, Dulwich Hill on Saturday 18 July. There are limited in-venue tickets and the event will be streamed live around the globe! So tune in and get your live or streaming tickets.

MARCH 7: 2020 GIRRAKOOL BLUES FESTIVAL

Marlene Cummins & Band Live at Girrakool 2020.

Marlene and her band will take the stage at Girrakool 3:30pm Saturday 7 March. Girrakool Blues Festival & BBQ is held in the Mt Penang Event Park Kariong, on the Central Coast NSW, situated conveniently between Newcastle and Sydney, and only a 2 minute drive from the M1 Motorway. Event Details

JAN 14-18: 2020 BLACK DROP EFFECT

Bankstown Arts Centre | Sydney Festival Premiere 2020

Black Drop Effect.is a new play by Yuwaalaraay woman Nardi Simpson; storyteller, performer, and songwriter with Stiff Gins. Black Drop Effect is an immersive, multi-layered exploration of black and white, generational conflict, and the ongoing effects of colonisation.

Binno (William McPherson) is an Aboriginal elder and erstwhile member of a community dance group who is asked to present a series of traditional dances, alongside an actor reading extracts from Captain Cook’s diaries, for a 26 January celebration. Binno is unsure, until his straight-talking sister Beenie (Marlene Cummins) convinces him to teach the dances to three young men seeking connections with culture, country and their place in the world. Produced by Bankstown Arts Centre, and directed by Felix Cross.

© Text and image Sydney Festival 2020