Photo (left-right): Celia Coulthard, Nancy Bates & Temaana Sanderson-Bromley
In episode 8 of The First 50 podcast, Adelaide Festival Centre Programming Executive Celia Coulthard along with proud Barkindji song woman Nancy Bates and the youngest winner of Don Dunstan Foundation OUR MOB Emerging Artist Prize, Temaana Sanderson-Bromley talk about their artistic influences and the ability for First Nations music, art and story-telling to unite and heal communities ahead of Adelaide Festival Centre’s OUR MOB and OUR YOUNG MOB events starting this week.
“We are Adelaide Festival Centre and whilst the programs are growing, I would really love to see an official First Nations festival in the next few years coming out of this growth and continuing. To particularly champion the work coming out of South Australia, our First Nations artists here are so extraordinary, there’s a lot of amazing work that exists here, a lot of incredible artists and a lot of work that’s developing and we can really be a part of that in this building.”
“I think when you tour with someone like Uncle Archie Roach – and that was a 3-and-a-half-year apprenticeship for me – watch his way of stillness and strength and gentleness in his approach to performing but also talking about some of the stuff that is really difficult for us as First Nations mob. You listen to Archie Roach and his music and there’s always time to receive in the song the message and he always left that space which is an important space when you’re singing about big things and important things as well.”
“I think about my family, my mob, obviously there’s so many stories of my country that I love to share and I’m really grateful and lucky to have such a strong connection to my country and my people and that’s something some people don’t have. I think it’s almost like a duty for me to share it in a way, for others to see, to learn from, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, I just love to share our stories of my people. It’s much I guess bigger than me, it’s about all of us.”
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Biographies
Libby O’Donovan
Libby O’Donovan is a “powerful and sassy performer” (Sydney Morning Herald), renowned for her nuanced interpretations and extraordinary voice. She is a critically acclaimed jazz and cabaret performer and an award-winning Musical Director. Libby has entertained audiences the world-over with her unique talents, performing in New York, Tokyo and Toronto as well as Australia-wide. Equally at home in small ensemble acts as well as solo performances, she has been a proud member of ARIA nominated Coco’s Lunch, Flat on Your Bacharach, and Women With Standards, for which she won a Green Room Award for Musical Direction.
Highly regarded as a solo artist, Libby has performed seasons for the Adelaide Festival of Arts, Edinburgh Fringe, Sydney Spring Festival, Perth International Arts Festival, the International Jazz Educators Convention, Adelaide Cabaret Festival (including working with Broadway composers Jason Robert-Brown and Andrew Lippa), Melbourne Fringe, Adelaide Fringe, Feast Festival, and the Wangaratta Jazz Festival.
Her theatre credits include Matthew Robinson’s Metro Street, Doppio Parallelo’s DJ Squat, Contaminations Lab and The Last Child, Vitalstatistix’s Way Dead Cool and Patch Theatre Company’s Sharon Keep Ya Hair On! Libby’s recent body of work in Cabaret includes The Story of Meredith Crocksley, Some of My Best Friends Are Single, Gady La La: Songs for the Sophisticated Fag Hag, Kate Leigh: The Worst Woman, UNSUNG and The Cowgirl and The Showgirl.
As a recording artist she has featured on numerous Jazz and Cabaret albums, as well as her critically acclaimed self-penned albums The Complication, Home to You and Back to Broken Hill.
Libby is also highly in demand as a composer, arranger and musical director.
Libby was the recipient of Adelaide Cabaret Festival’s Icon Award in 2022.
Temaana Sanderson-Bromley
Multi-dimensional Adnyamathanha, Narungga and Yarluyandi artist Temaana Sanderson- Bromley was announced the winner of the prestigious Don Dunstan Foundation OUR MOB Emerging Artist Prize during the 2022 OUR MOB awards. Along with the acknowledgement of his creativity, the award also has a purse of $5,000. At 18 years old, Sanderson- Bromley is the youngest person to ever win the Emerging Artist Prize. He impressed the judges with his multiple artworks including hand painted ceramics, acrylic on wood sculptures and giclee print on archival cotton rag paper. The artworks were inspired by his Country, the Flinders Ranges, and represent the diverse landscapes and colours. He references different Dreaming stories such as the Yurlu (Kingfisher man) story that details how Wilpena Pound and Flinders Rangers were created.
In 2021, Temaana started Mardlaapa designs, a surf inspired fashion brand. 5% of profits directed towards varying environment and wildlife causes. In 2023, Temaana continues to be an educator, artist, and storyteller. Currently studying Marine & Wildlife Conservation at the University of Adelaide.
Nancy Bates
Nancy Bates is a Song Woman originating from Far Western NSW. Her Barkindji roots, the transformative power of love over pain, and what it means to be a woman in the 21st century drive her soulful, moving song writing.
Celia Coulthard
Celia grew up in Leigh Creek, a tiny town on the edges on the Flinders Ranges, she is a proud Adnyamathanha woman. Celia started at the Adelaide Festival Centre in 2019 in arts administration. In 2020, Celia launched OUR WORDS and OUR STORIES initiatives. OUR WORDS focuses on spoken word performances and literary pieces that tell First nations stories. Celia witnessed the success of OUR MOB and saw an opportunity for a literary version to be created. OUR STORIES sees children hear dreaming stories from South Australian First Nations storytellers.
About The First 50 Podcast
Hosted by the powerful and sassy Libby O'Donovan, The First 50 podcast series will provide 12 snapshot moments that cover the Centre's 50-year history. Hear stories, anecdotes and memories by those who have had their lives touched by the theatre: performers, artistic directors, ushers, and Walk of Fame-ers.
The 12 episodes within the series will be published monthly across 2023. Be sure to follow for monthly drops.
Related pages
The First 50: Our 50th Anniversary Podcast
Hosted by the powerful and sassy Libby O'Donovan, The First 50 podcast series provides 12 snapshot moments that cover the Centre’s 50-year history.
The First 50 Podcast — Episode 1: Robyn Archer
In Episode 1 of The First 50 Podcast, hear internationally renowned cabaret and theatre performer Robyn Archer chat to host Libby O’Donovan as she delves into her history at Adelaide Festival Centre.
The First 50 Podcast — Episode 2: William Barton
In Episode 2 of The First 50 Podcast, hear didgeridoo virtuoso and acclaimed composer William Barton chat to host Libby O’Donovan about his inspiring career as a First Nations artist and his connection to Adelaide Festival Centre.
The First 50 Podcast — Episode 3: Rhonda Burchmore & Todd McKenney
In Episode 3 of The First 50 Podcast, hear how two iconic Australian performing artists met for the first time… at Adelaide Festival Centre!
The First 50 Podcast — Episode 4: Sally Chance
In Episode 4 of The First 50 Podcast, hear how past DreamBIG Artistic Director, teacher and artist Sally Chance has had a significant impact on the wellbeing and self-expression of young people around the world.
The First 50 Podcast — Episode 5: Kate Ceberano
In episode 5, our host Libby O’Donovan chats to Australian music icon Kate Ceberano.
The First 50 Podcast — Episode 6: Anthony Steel & Douglas Gautier
In episode 6, our host Libby O’Donovan chats to Adelaide Festival Centre's first General Manager, Anthony Steel and current CEO and Artistic Director, Douglas Gautier AM, in celebration of 50 spectacular years of arts and culture.
The First 50 Podcast — Episode 7: Slava Grigoryan
In episode 7 of The First 50, Adelaide Guitar Festival Artistic Director, Slava Grigoryan, talks about his family’s musical history, his journey to Australia and how he navigated success at a young age.
Celebrating First Nations
Our reconciliation vision is to celebrate First Nations cultures through recognition, representation, collaboration, and action.
