Ruby's Story
Music and lyrics: Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter
Musical Direction: Paul Grabowsky
Arrangements and additional music: Paul Grabowsky
Creative Consultant: Patrick Nolan
Direction: Melinda Collie-Holmes
Program Notes
Ruby’s Story is a passionate and emotionally moving concert about stolen children and stolen water, sung and recounted by Ngarrindjeri woman Ruby Hunter and her partner in music and life, Archie Roach (Yorta Yorta). The much loved and respected Ruby and Archie, both members of the Stolen Generations, are accompanied by Paul Grabowsky and the Australian Art Orchestra in this truly unique performance.
The concert recounts Ruby’s birth by the side of a billabong near the banks of the Murray River in SA. It charts her search for identity, the discovery of hope through love, and Ruby and Archie’s return to the river to build a new life and a new home, to mend the wounds of the past. Through lyrical and poignant songs, Ruby’s Story is a tale about the abuse of power and the power of love; about facing up to past wrongs; and our shared responsibility to battle for the survival of our environment and the great river systems upon which all of our lives depend.
Ruby's Story was premiered in June 2004 at the Playhouse, Sydney Opera House during the Message Sticks Festival. From there, the show was presented at the Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre during the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. In 2005, Ruby's Story toured to Mexico as part of the Festival de Mexico and then in July 2005 it throughout Queensland and the Northern Territory as part of the Brisbane Music Festival. In 2006 it returned to the Sydney Opera House for seven shows and performed at the Water Water festival in Sale. In 2007 Ruby's Story traveled to New Zealand for the Auckland International Festival, performed three shows at the Dreaming Festival and was invited to Malaysia for a performance at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Center.
Ruby's Story won the 2004 Deadly for 'Excellence in Film & Theatrical Score' - Composers: Archie Roach, Ruby Hunter and Paul Grabowsky. The Deadlys are the Deadly Sounds Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music Awards, held annually.
Performers
(depending on programing the following players alternate with each other )
- Phillip Slater/Scott Tinkler (trumpet)
- James Greening/Adrian Sherriff (trombone)
- Paul Cutlan/Tony Hicks (reeds)
- Sandy Evans/ Julien Wilson (reeds)
- John Rodgers/Erkki Veltheim (violin)
- Carl Dewhurst/Stephen Magnusson (guitar)
- Paul Grabowsky/Alister Spence (keyboards)
- Philip Rex/Steve Elphick (double bass)
- Simon Barker/Niko Schauble (drums)
- Vanessa Tomlinson/Alex Pertout (percussion)
Press for Ruby's Story
- "Daughter of the river"
- Iain Shedden (‘The Australian’) 01 June 2004
- "What an amazing, memorable night out!"
- Kezia George http://www.abc.net.au/message Published Date: 10/06/2004
- "She's the centre of attention in some very fine company"
- Louise Nunn (The Advertiser) 12.06.04
- "The success of the fusion"
- David Grybowski (dBmagazine Adelaide Issue 332) June 2004
- "Magical river music"
- Keith Gallasch, REALTIME, June 2004
- "music that goes right into my bones"
- Sydney Morning Herald (John Clare), April 15 2006 + SIMA website
- The Ebb and flow-songs from the river of life
- The Sydney Morning Herald, March 14 2006
- "Ruby's new ground"
- THE KOORI MAIL, March 15, 2006.
- " Swirling sea of sonic passion"
- BEAT MAGAZINE, March 8, 2006.
- "A Unique Collaboration Has Created An Authentic Form Of Australian Blues And Jazz"
- Limelight, April 2006
- Joyous celebration
- Review by MARTIN VENGADESAN starmag-feedback@thestar.com.my
Read Lyrics from Ruby's Story
- Kura (River) Tung(ar) Songs and Stories
- Old So and So
- Down City Streets
- Little by Little
- Coolamen Baby
- Took the Children Away
- Daisy chains, String Games and Knuckle Bones
- Wash My Soul in the River's Flow
- Held up To the Moon In My Grandfather's Hands
- Nopun Kurongk (Go to the River)
- Ngarrindjeri Woman
- A Child Was Born
Listen to a sample from Ruby's Story
