HotHouse Theatre presents four local performers, joined by a local community choir, supporting Jessie Lloyd in Mission Songs Project
Jessie Lloyd’s profoundly moving and important Mission Songs Project is an initiative to revive contemporary Australian Indigenous songs from 1900 to 1999. The show reveals what daily life was like for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on Christian missions and state-run settlements. Jessie will also be supported onstage by local performers, Racheal Oak Butler, Aaron Perkins-Kemp-Berger, Aunty Valda Murray and a local choir, performing two original songs reflecting local identity and stories.
Searching for the secular songs that were sung after church, Mission Songs Project looks to explore the day-to-day life of the mission days, from cultural identity to love and loss. These unique songs performed by an extraordinary group of Indigenous musicians consist of almost forgotten stories that illuminate the history of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders, families, and communities.
Presented as an acoustic trio, Jessie Lloyd takes audiences on a musical journey across Australia. She engages through intimate storytelling, moving harmonies and historical insights. Using humour and truth, Jessie shares the voices of elders as they would around a warm campfire or kitchen table.
Jessie Lloyd connects the traditional with the contemporary, revealing the continuation of cultural practice and song traditions into the 21st Century. Don’t miss Jessie and our local performers in this beautiful and moving production.
HotHouse Theatre’s Artistic Director Karla Conway said: “Mission Songs Project provides a beautiful connection between the history and stories of our mixed mob community in Albury Wodonga - within the broader songs and stories from the missions over the last century. We can’t wait to see our local performers celebrated on stage with Jessie Lloyd.
It will be a special night in the theatre”.
In addition to the evening shows, there will be a special community performance on Saturday 15 May at 2PM. Complimentary community tickets can be accessed at AWAHS and Mungabareena for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members.
Production Credits
Creator Jessie Lloyd
Lighting Designer Chloe Ogilvie
Sound Engineer / Tour Manager Renee Delahunty
Vocalists Mindy Kwanten & Shellie Morris
Featuring Aunty Valda Murray, Racheal Oak Butler and Aaron Perkins-Kemp-Berger
Produced by Performing Lines
About Jesse Lloyd
Originally from tropical North Queensland, Jessie Lloyd is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musician who performs a broad collection of Australian First Nations songs. A vocalist, guitarist, bassist and ukulele player, Jessie earned her formal qualifications at Abmusic in Perth in 2002.
A musician, producer and creative entrepreneur, Jessie Lloyd is a cultural practitioner dedicated to the continuation of song traditions. Her mission is to produce, perform and progress Australian Indigenous music through innovative, collaborative projects and cultural practice. Maintaining an authenticity that contributes to the rich diversity of Australian arts and its audiences, and working towards positive and progressive social opportunities, values and attitudes.
Dedicated to the continuation of cultural practice through the production of both traditional and contemporary Indigenous music, Jessie has broad experience in the music business and sector development. Jessie was previously CEO of Songlines Aboriginal Music in Melbourne and South West Aboriginal Entertainment in Perth. She has produced projects, performances, albums, a music TV series for NITV and undertaken multiple Artistic and Music Director roles over her career.
Performance Dates and Time
Wednesday 12 May 7:00 PM
Thursday 13 May 7:00 PM
Friday 14 May 7:00 PM – Followed by a post-performance Q&A
Saturday 15 May 2:00 PM
Saturday 15 May 7:00 PM
Tickets - go to the HotHouse Theatre website
Full Price $50.00 | Cons. $42.00 | Fulltime student $20.00
This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body and the Indigenous Languages and Arts program.