An epic love story and family history spanning 100 years, Keep Him My Heart: A Larrakia-Filipino Love Story tells the tale of the lives of artist and anthropologist Gary Lee’s maternal great-grandparents – Filipino-Spanish sailmaker, Antonio Cubillo, and Larrakia woman, Magdalena (Lily) McKeddie.
Groundbreaking in its focus on shared Aboriginal-Asian history, the play premiered in 1993, and assembled a large cast of mostly amateur local actors, including members of Darwin's Cubillo family. It also featured musical accompaniment by the Darwin Rondalla string guitar orchestra, under the direction of Bong Ramilo.
Just over 30 years later, the script of this remarkable work – now an almost historical text of a significant, quintessentially Top End history – has been published by Darwin-based publisher dishevel books. This new publication draws, like the play, on the Cubillo family photographic archive, and includes related additional texts and a detailed bibliography. To celebrate the launch of this significant work, publisher Maurice O’Riordan will discuss the play’s enduring relevance and members of the now celebrated Darwin Rondalla will give a brief performance. Join them, and discover why Keep Him My Heart is as fresh and as exciting as ever.
Saturday 29 June 2024
Facilities
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Accessibility
Disabled access available, contact operator for details.
