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Dreamworld Corroboree D
attractions dedicated to Kung Fu Panda as its part
Last winter it put in new Celebrating Aboriginal culture on the Gold Coast
Dreamworks Experience area, and previously the park has featured the world of Nickelodeon, but last month Dreamworld on the Gold Coast in Australia celebrated something a little closer to home
reamworld Corroboree, built with the aid of a government grant, is an interactive walk- through experience celebrating 50,000 years
Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander culture, wildlife and stories – and an Australian theme park first. As well as watching a live performance and various multimedia presentations, guests are invited to engage with indigenous people by taking part in activities including dot painting, fire-making, didgeridoo playing, animal talks and demonstrations on spear throwing. Fascinating subjects such as totem culture and sacred creation stories are explored, while the challenging issues of European colonisation and the Stolen Generations are given their due respect. Australia’s unique wildlife is also showcased as part of the attraction. “We’re incredibly excited to work on a project that delivers a memorable and
authentic connection with all that is Australia,” notes
Dreamworld CEO, Craig Davidson. The walk- through attraction was
conceived, written and produced by visitor
experience
company Earthstory, whose other credits include projects at Sea World and Warner Bros Movie World on the Gold Coast, the Sydney Tower Eye and Sydney Sea Life, Melbourne Aquarium and Sentosa island in Singapore. Working with Dreamworld and Earthstory as a cultural consultant on the project was David Dahwurr Hudson. “I am working with the local Yugambeh language people of the Gold Coast to script a story for the local performers, which will make up the audio- visual component of the project,” he explains. “Woven into the experiences is a cross-section of culture and legendary stories including Mabo, Dreamtime, men and women’s business, the Tasmanian Devil, the Kimberleys and even the Far North.” Featured as part of the Corroboree experience is the
film Creation of the Gold Coast, presented on a large 10m x 3m panoramic screen. This dramatisation of the local Yugambeh creation story is narrated by a real life storyteller. On the ceiling of the theatre is a gigantic “timeline serpent” chronicling 50,000 years of indigenous living history, which is internally lit with a programmable multicoloured LED lighting system that alters its appearance to synchronise with the surrounds and main audiovisuals in real time. Other digital media includes an interactive map of Australia's 200+ indigenous language areas, animated stories, an interactive Aboriginal art touchscreen and subtitled footage of the Australian government’s apology speech.
Live wildlife exhibits ranging from kangaroos, koalas and Saltwater crocodiles to Tasmanian Devils and tree kangaroos are interpreted through an indigenous lens to highlight their relevance to Aboriginal culture and as characters with key roles within timeless creation stories.
After soft opening over the Christmas period, the official launch of Dreamworld Corroboree was made on 21 February, with Australian government representatives and TV crews in attendance.
dreamworld.com.au/corroboree
22
MARCH 2014
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