Marrugeku: “Jurrungu Ngan-ga / Straight Talk”
As part of Tanz im August
34th International Festival Berlin
presented by HAU Hebbel am Ufer
German premiere in cooperation with International Summer Festival Kampnagel
Australian-based company Marrugeku boldly investigates that which Australia wishes to lock away. Responding to narratives of fear and detainment shared by Yawuru leader Patrick Dodson and former prisoners such as Kurdish-Iranian writer Behrouz Boochani.

Jurrungu Ngan-ga / Straight Talk
© Prudence Upton
- 85 min
- In English with German surtitles
Past Dates
- Friday, 5 August 2022
- 20:00—21:25
- Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Main Stage
- 15 – 45 / reduced € 15 – 35
- Saturday, 6 August 2022
- 19:00—20:25
- Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Main Stage
- 15 – 45 / reduced € 15 – 35
- Sunday, 7 August 2022
- 17:00—18:25
- Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Main Stage
- 15 – 45 / reduced € 15 – 35
The intercultural performers draw on their life stories as indigenous, displaced, exiled, transgender or settler subjects. “Jurrungu Ngan-ga” – translating from Yarawu to “Straight Talk” – builds on allied intelligence and intersecting experiences of resistance and survival to ask who is really in prison here.
Cast
Dalisa Pigram, Rachael Swain, Patrick Dodson Concept
Dalisa Pigram Choreographer
Rachael Swain Director
Hildegard de Vuyst Dramaturgy
Behrouz Boochani, Patrick Dodson, Omid Tofighian Cultural dramaturgy
Sam Serruys, Paul Charlier, Rhyan Clapham aka DOBBY Music
Sam Serruys, Paul Charlier Sound design
Abdul-Rahman Abdullah Stage design
Andrew Treloar Costume design
Damien Cooper Lighting design
Stacy Peke aka Red Ladybrui5er (Krump Army) Additional choreography
Aiden Brennan Production manager & lighting Control
Raine Paul Sound engineer
Denise Wilson Company manager
Natalie Smith Production & tour manager
By & with
Czack ‘Ses’ Bero, Emmanuel James Brown, Chandler Connell, Luke Currie-Richardson, Issa el Assaad, Zachary Lopez / Macon Riley, Bhenji Ra, Feras Shaheen, Miranda Wheen