Straight from the Strait
| Straight from the Strait | |
|---|---|
| A Torres Strait Island Musical | |
| Music | Rubina Kimiia |
| Lyrics | Norah Bagiri |
| Book |
|
| Premiere | 28 August 2024: Playhouse, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Brisbane |
| Awards | 2024 Queensland Matilda Award for Best Musical or Cabaret |
Straight from the Strait is an Australian musical with a book by Norah Bagirim and Rubina Kimiia; Bagirim wrote the lyrics, and Kimiia wrote the music.
It tells the story of Torres Strait Islander workers far from home in the Pilbara in the late 1960s laying track on the Mount Newman railway, and breaking a world record by laying seven kilometres of track in under 12 hours. The score includes both contemporary and traditional Torres Strait musical styles, featuring Meriam Mir, Kala Lagaw Ya and Torres Strait Creole languages as well as English.[1][2]
Straight from the Strait premiered from 28 to 31 August 2024 in Brisbane at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre's Playhouse, presented by Opera Queensland, Yumpla Nerkep Foundation and QPAC in association with Brisbane Festival.[3]
It was named Best Musical or Cabaret at the 2025 Queensland Matilda Awards.[4]
Principal cast
[edit]| Character | Performer |
|---|---|
| Boyor | Paul Isakara Williams |
| Kusa | Harold Pascoe |
| Pinau | Vaughan Wapau |
| Serai | Gertrude Benjamin |
| Isobel | Georgia Corowa |
| Mama | Ghenoa Gela |
| Man Mountain | Jalen Sutcliffe |
| Protector Man/Bradco Bala/John Richardson | Zeek Power |
| Levi | Joseph Tapau |
| Bobby B | Edward Lampton |
| Jimmy | Marcus Corowa |
| Sid | Zane Lemusu |
| Uncle Reuben/Simeon | Maurice Sailor |
| H&S Officer & Joe | Kani Puru |
| Reporter | Cleopatra Pryce |
Reception
[edit]Awards
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 |
Matilda Awards | Best Set Design | Kevin O'Brien | Won | [5] |
| Best Lighting Design | Jason Glenwright | Won | |||
| Best Direction | Nadine McDonald-Dowd | Nominated | |||
| Best Performance in a Leading Role - Mainstage Production | Vaughan Wapau | Nominated | |||
| Best Performance in a Supporting Role - Mainstage Production | Georgia Corowa | Nominated | |||
| Best Musical or Cabaret | Won | ||||
| The Judges Award | Won | ||||
References
[edit]- ^ Archibald-Binge, Ella (13 April 2024). "These Torres Strait Islanders broke a world record. Their story has largely gone untold, until now". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
- ^ Dent, Nick (11 August 2024). "Their speed at building railways made them legends. What was their secret?". Brisbane Times. Nine Entertainment. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
- ^ Dow, Steve (30 August 2024). "Straight from the Strait review – a joyous musical inspired by a little-known Australian story". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
- ^ Brown, Phil (24 February 2025). "Straight from the heart: How the Torres Strait blitzed the Matildas". InDaily Qld. Solstice Media. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
- ^ "2024 Recipients". Matilda Awards. Retrieved 20 June 2026.