Tjaabi – Flood Country

Stories and sounds of the Pilbara

Tjaabi–Flood Country is a celebration of country and culture in song, word and vision, led by Ngarluma man Patrick Churnside.

Raw, gripping and intensely moving, Patrick’s remarkable life is shared through breathtaking music, profoundly personal narrative and humour that cuts to the bone.

Tjaabi – Flood Country presents a sophisticated portrait of Pilbara life, capturing the many pressures Aboriginal people face amidst the ever-increasing pursuit for minerals and ore.

Ten years in the making, this work is an intercultural sharing, reflecting a hopeful future of cultural exchange and dialogue, with Patrick’s story at the centre.

Created in collaboration with award-winning writer and director Scott Rankin, (Namatjira, Ngapartji Ngapartji, Hipbone Sticking Out) and scored and performed with composer and musician Aaron Hopper, whose emotive, nuanced, and intelligent work seeks to grow out of traditional Pilbara melody and motif, creating a space for Patrick’s own story to emerge.

“Pilbara songs are hanging in the air under a swollen moon. Indian prayer bowls brimming with salt, spinifex seeds, sand and water have been laid on pillows of red dirt across the performance ground.” – Victoria Laurie, The Australian

“Patrick Churnside’s Tjaabi: Flood Country: Weaving Stories of the Pilbara’s Soul… The performance is more than just a musical theatre production; it’s a testament to the power of storytelling, resilience, and cultural exchange.” – NITV

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