An Aboriginal Moomba: Out of the Dark

An Aboriginal Moomba: Out of the Dark was a 1951 Australian theatrical performance.

It was presented at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne by the Australian Aboriginal League, as a contribution to the centenary of Victoria and the fiftieth jubilee of the establishment of the Commonwealth of Australia.^[1][2] It was conceived by Douglas Nicholls and Bill Onus,^[3] and directed by Irene Mitchell.^[4]

'Part One: The Past' was a dramatic performance with movement and song of the story of Toolaba. 'Part Two: The Present' included "tableaus of progress" and performances by singers Harold Blair and Georgia Lee.^[5][6]

The cast of 40 players included 13 from Cherbourg.^[4]

References

1. "Native Moomba an Exciting Show". The Age. No. 30, 001. Victoria, Australia. 25 June 1951. p. 6. Retrieved 16 May 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
2. Fraser, Virginia. Making a Show Of It: Indigenous entertainers and entrepreneurs in 1950s Melbourne (PDF). Melbourne: City Gallery.
3. Kleinert, Sylvia (2011). "Bill Onus". Design & Art Australia Online. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
4. "Moomba - something to rave about". The Courier-mail. No. 4551. Queensland, Australia. 29 June 1951. p. 2. Retrieved 16 May 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
5. "An Aboriginal Moomba: Out of the Dark'". repository.monash.edu. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
6. "An Aboriginal Moomba: Out of the Dark". www.ausstage.edu.au. Retrieved 16 May 2021.