Billed as a play about family, culture and survival, Jacky is theatre at its most candid, challenging and thought-provoking.
Written by Declan Furber Gillick (Arrernte), the production is propelled by Australia’s violent, genocidal and exploitative history surrounding the First Nations people of this country required to conform to an anglicised existence.
It is an unwavering and confronting work with a multi-layered complexity that asks more questions than it answers, surrounding monumental themes of capitalism, colonialism, racism, oppression and assimilation.
First produced by Melbourne Theatre Company in 2023, this co-production between Black Swan State Theatre Company and Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company sees the two joining artistic forces for the first time since sci-fi comedy Skylab in 2018.
Neither Kate Champion or Maitland Schnaars (Nyaki-Nyaki) were at the helm of their respective theatre companies then, and after four years of searching, decided on Jacky as their collaborative co-directorship tour de force before Champion’s tenure finishes at the end of this year.
The WA premiere places First Nations storytelling front and centre in a contemporary city setting, as Aboriginal man Jacky navigates the complexities of his urban life until younger brother Keith’s arrival highlights the community, culture and country Jacky has sacrificed to survive.
The mismatched siblings have some compelling debates over differing values, initiated by Jacky’s compartmentalised reality of bouncing between the gig economy of office internship, sex work and cultural performances.
Ian ‘Moopa’ Wilkes (Wadjuk, Ballardong) in the titular role extends a compelling performance as the “motivated, handsome, enterprising Aboriginal young man”.
While Rueben Mongoo (Ballardong, Wajarri) wholeheartedly embraces the free-spirited, chatterbox larrikin that is Keith, regarded as everyone’s favourite liability whose lack of motivation and layabout nature test Jacky’s tolerance.
Presented by a cast of two Indigenous actors and two non-Indigenous actors, Amy Mathews and Steve Turner as separated couple Linda and Glenn add an additional level of emotional depth to the production, jarring as Glenn’s racist language and sexual desires may be.
These flawed and, at times, funny characters explore the intricacies of identity and connection while traversing Sophie Fletcher’s inspired revolving set design, the unfolding storyline escalating in the second act.
Jacky is a night of potent, relevant and occasionally uncomfortable theatre, and a definite conversation starter, no matter what side of the conversation you sit on.
4 stars
Jacky is at Subiaco Arts Centre until November 8.