THE BLACK ARM BAND

The Black Arm Band has just returned from London, where it received a rapturous response to its epic and transcendental concert event murundak.

This was its first international presentation. Since its world premiere in 2006 as part of Melbourne Festival, the show has toured nationally, garnering enormous critical acclaim and packed houses across the land.

_{Ruby Hunter and Archie Roach perfoming in murundak, Melbourne Festival 2008
photo: John Sones}

In London as part of the LIFT Festival, the city's International Festival of Theatre, The Black Arm Band graced its South Bank Centre stage in front of a capacity audience. British actor Pete Postlethwaite provided a unique twist, presenting his English version of the ‘welcome to country' usually given by a local elder before performances in Australia.

On the back of its triumphant UK performance, The Black Arm Band has been invited to perform murundak in other countries throughout Europe. But, in wonderful news for Melbourne, before it heads back to foreign shores, The Black Arm Band presents the world premiere of its partner piece to murundak, the magnificent Hidden Republic as part of Melbourne Festival 2008. A collaboration with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, this is an historic musical event that celebrates songs of hope and resistance from the open heart of Australia's contemporary Indigenous music. If the continued success of murundak is anything to go by, this is an event not to be missed.

_{Hidden Republic
photo: Ned Meldrum}