A new children’s show titled The Bogong’s Song: A Call to Country has emerged from a unique collaboration between theatre artist Yolande Brown and the natural wonders of Australia. The production is inspired by Brown’s experiences in Kosciuszko National Park, where she and her son participated in an annual alpine species count, learning about endangered species and their habitats.
During a recent outing in the park, Brown and her nine-year-old son joined Dr. Linda Broome, an expert in threatened species, to count bogong moths. These remarkable insects undertake a journey of up to 1,000 kilometres during their annual migration from warmer regions. Brown described the moment they opened the bucket traps, noting, “As soon as you opened the bucket, there was this scent. It smelt like nectar because they’d been pollinating the flowering plants in the area.”
The previous day, Brown had also engaged in counting mountain pygmy possums, a tiny marsupial whose population has been severely impacted by drought and the devastating bushfires of 2020-21. “They were no bigger than the palm of your hand,” Brown recalled. “Some had babies in their pouches. They were wriggly and feisty because it was windy and that was getting under their fur.”
The motivation behind Brown’s journey to this alpine count was her theatre work. The new show, designed for children aged five and older, incorporates various art forms, including storytelling, dance, video, shadow puppetry, and original songs. It features performers Benjin Maza and Tjilala Brown-Roberts, who portray siblings preparing for a journey to visit their grandmother.
A Journey into the Bogong’s Dream
In the narrative of The Bogong’s Song, the siblings pack their bags and, after falling asleep, enter the dream of the bogong moth. “They enter as fractals of the bogong’s imagination,” Brown explained. “They’re given a mission to find a missing bogong moth and, during their journey, they get separated. They meet different creatures, each with something to share and teach them.”
This innovative blend of performance art aims to educate young audiences about the importance of biodiversity and conservation. By integrating elements of Indigenous storytelling and contemporary theatre, Brown’s work not only entertains but also imparts a vital message about the fragile ecosystems surrounding us.
The work of Brown, a descendant of the Bidjara clan of the Kunja nation in central Queensland, emphasizes the connection between culture and nature. This perspective enriches the narrative, making it relevant not just to children, but to all audiences who engage with the themes of family, adventure, and environmental stewardship.
As the show prepares for its debut, it stands as a testament to the power of art in raising awareness about endangered species and their habitats. Through The Bogong’s Song, audiences are invited to embark on a journey that is both imaginative and educational, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts in Australia’s unique ecosystems.
