MEERTA – Rise Up! The Ballad of James Arden

MEERTA – Rise Up! The Ballad of James Arden ·

Commissioned by YIRRAMBOI and presented by Arts Centre Melbourne

MEERTA– Rise Up! The Ballad of James Arden brings together a deadly team of artists led by accomplished Gunditjmara/Kokatha singer-songwriter, David Arden. MEERTA is a creative piece of powerful truth-telling and warm heartfelt theatre. As a talented songman, David Arden is continuing his cultural responsibility, healing community & sharing culture through music.

MEERTA will tell the story of David’s Great Grandfather James Arden, & the Gunditjmara People– a story of identity, urban & tribal life, friendship, repatriation, racism, freedom & fighting for your rights. MEERTA is a message of strength, hope and understanding.

David will be collaborating with professional Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal musicians alongside young and upcoming music students from the Victorian College of the Arts and the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music.

The show will incorporate stunning visual design by Dixon Patten that will amplify the poignancy of David’s original compositions.

MEERTA is inspired by all those who have gone before on this ancestral land, along with David’s own life experiences, to help audiences understand past injustices & promote cultural understanding.

Accessibility

Wheelchair Accessible Accessible Bathrooms Assistant Animal Friendly Auslan interpreted performance on 11 May ACCESS TO VENUE: PUBLIC TRANSPORT Tram The trams that stop in front of Arts Centre Melbourne are: 1, 3, 3a, 5, 6, 16, 64, 67 and 72. This stop is number 14 – “Arts Precinct ”. Train Flinders Street Station is the nearest train station to Arts Centre Melbourne. It is located across the Yarra River and is a few hundred metres walking distance away. To get to Arts Centre Melbourne from Flinders St Station, exit onto Swanston St. Then turn your back on the city and cross the river. Hamer Hall is the first building and is large, round and located on the banks of the Yarra River. Next to this, separated by a lawn, is our Theatres Building. This building has a spire on the top. Taxi There is a taxi rank in front of Arts Centre Melbourne on St Kilda Road, where you can flag a taxi down. If you need assistance, please speak to our Welcome Team. They can call a taxi and are located inside the St Kilda Road doors of the Theatre Building behind the gold desks. ACCESSIBLE PARKING Both levels of the Arts Centre Melbourne car park are wheelchair accessible. There are several clearly marked accessible parking bays. If you park in these bays, please display your valid Parking Permit for people with disability. There are two free accessible parking spaces on the Arts Centre Melbourne side of St Kilda Road between the Theatres Building and Hamer Hall. There are limited free parking spaces on Southbank Boulevard. These spaces cannot be reserved, and time limits may apply. ACCESSIBLE DROP OFF The nearest pick up and drop off points to Arts Centre Melbourne’s Theatres Building and Hamer Hall are: In the Arts Centre Melbourne car park – cars who enter and leave within 15 minutes will not be charged a fee. Take a ticket from the machine at the entrance into the car park and put it back into the machine on the way out. Both outside lanes on St Kilda Road, across from the Theatres Building. Drop off in the Northbound lane is better if you have booked an Arts Centre Melbourne wheelchair and requested a staff meet you with it. Please note: St Kilda Road is often congested and the Northbound lane can be difficult to access. Sometimes the road is closed for events and works.

Warnings

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and all peoples should be aware that MEERTA - Rise Up! The Ballad of James Arden and the associated songs, artworks, videos & website may contain the images, voices and or/ names of people who have passed away. Dave Arden and family has respectfully consulted widely with family and community for appropriate use of images and in some circumstances where this may not have been possible we acknowledge It can cause deep distress and sadness for family members, extended family members, communities and peoples associated with the deceased. Upon request we will respectfully remove any images that may cause any individual family or community member distress or discomfort.

Credits

Musicians: Director, Co-Musical Director, Singer, Songwriter, Guitar: David Arden Co-Musical Director, Guitar: Daniel Jauregui Bass Guitarist: Brad Brown Bass Guitarist: Ann Metry Drums: Chris Cameron Keyboard: Jake Amy Singer: Deniece Hudson Horns and Strings: Jordan Murray & VCA music students Music Notation: Jordan Murray Visual Design: Dixon Patten Co-Producers: Violet Arden & Jill Morgan AM