Critically acclaimed Bunbury actor and director of Indigenous theatre and film Lynette Narkle was presented with Australia Council’s prestigious Red Ochre Award for 2017 at the 10th National Indigenous Arts Awards at the Sydney Opera House on Saturday, 27 May.
The proud Noongar Nation woman’s career spans five decades and she is recognised nationally and internationally as one of Australia’s leading Aboriginal actors and performing arts practitioners and a pivotal force in theatre.
But Ms Narkle said she started her career purely by accident in 1979.
“I was living in Bunbury and a telegram arrived to ring Perth Theatre Company about a theatre-in-education piece called Kullark, which in Noongar means ‘home’,” she said.
“I came up on the train to Perth and auditioned for the role of Rosie Yorla. Ernie Dingo was there in his Wildcats basketball shirt, rehearsing. I got the job and I haven’t stopped since.”
Ms Narkle’s early career was dominated by her performances in many of Indigenous playwright Jack Davis’ stage classics including Kullark, No Sugar, The Dreamers, Barungin and Honey Spot which all played to critical and audience acclaim.
In 1994 Lynette joined Western Australia’s fledgling Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company as associate director and took on many roles including director and performer. Over the next ten years, Lynette mentored and supported hundreds of young aspiring Indigenous writers, directors, stage managers and actors and studied Theatre and Drama studies at Murdoch University.
Her impressive film and television career includes the award-winning film The Sapphires and most recently Warwick Thornton’s The Darkside. Lynette pioneered the role of Indigenous Programs Officer at Screenwest and from 2004 to 2006 assisted emerging Aboriginal filmmakers to shape their screenplays and secure backing and producers.
Renowned for her humility, Lynette said that while she had enjoyed the opportunities to tell Aboriginal stories around the world, the main highlight of her career was travelling to rural and remote communities across Australia.
“The yarning after the shows with the community gave us a sense of belonging and helped us understand the issues facing Aboriginal people,” she said.
“I have been very lucky in my career as it has allowed me as an actor to be a voice for indigenous people across Australia by telling our stories our way.”
The Red Ochre Award was presented to Ms Narkle at the National Indigenous Arts Awards held on the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Referendum and the 25th anniversary of the Mabo decision.
The mother of five was recognised for her artistic excellence, cultural leadership, extraordinary lifetime achievements and contribution to the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts, nationally and internationally.
