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Gaban
Gaban
by Brook Andrew
by Brook Andrew
Brook Andrew's post-dramatic play Gaban, meaning "strange" in Wiradjuri, delves into the complex legacy of cultural imperialism and colonisation perpetuated by anthropological museums worldwide. Through interlinked stories of Powerful Objects, personified cultural artifacts in colonial collections, and characters embodying the museum's institutional power, the play explores the re-awakening of ancestral memories and the colonial fall-out.
Designed during my masters studies at the Victorian College of the Arts, the scenography for this premiere production sought to ground the post-dramatic, abstracted work within the physical parameters of a black box studio theatre. Drawing inspiration from the historical legacy of museums as sites of colonisation and cultural control, the set design reflected the stark, impersonal architecture of a contemporary museum, with marble-textured floors and walls nodding to the refinement of colonised lands into symbols of imperial wealth and dominance. A corner staging configuration and wraparound levels maximised the modest space, accommodating 12 performers and supporting the play's staging needs.
Role
Set & Costume Designer
Producer
VCA School of Theatre
Venue
Studio 4
Collaborators
Director: Budi Miller
Lighting Designer: Ikshvak Sobti
Sound Designer: Jack Burmeister
Vision Designer: Océane Federow-Yemm
Photography: Drew Echberg
















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I acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, the traditional custodians of the unceded land on which I work. I pay my respects to Elders, past and present, and acknowledge their connection to creativity, culture and storytelling. Sovereignty has never been ceded.
Subscribe to my newsletter
Occasional notes on new work and whatever else has caught my eye.
I acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, the traditional custodians of the unceded land on which I work. I pay my respects to Elders, past and present, and acknowledge their connection to creativity, culture and storytelling. Sovereignty has never been ceded.
Subscribe to my newsletter
Occasional notes on new work and whatever else has caught my eye.
I acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, the traditional custodians of the unceded land on which I work. I pay my respects to Elders, past and present, and acknowledge their connection to creativity, culture and storytelling. Sovereignty has never been ceded.


