Roy David Page died in April 2016. David as he was known, or Dubboo to his close friends, was the beloved ‘songman’ for Bangarra Dance Theatre, where he worked closely with his brother Stephen Page, the Artistic Director, and created the pioneering, distinctive scores for 27 of the company’s shows. As well as a composer he was an actor, singer and exuberant drag artist.

Introducing Dubboo – life of a songman, which honours his life, career and legacy, Michael McDaniel, the Chair of the Board, said that Bangarra had been waiting for the right time to celebrate David. The time now felt right.

The audience clearly felt so too. There was a huge buzz in the air as the audience arrived at a jam-packed Carriageworks. Two and three-quarter hours later they left having shared an intimate, moving yet cheeky look at his life that embraced his passion, vision, and mischievous spirit, with everyone on their feet at the end in a rousing standing ovation.

Dubboo – life of a songman. The dancers in Sacred from Patyegarang. Photograph © Jhuny-Boy Borja

The show was divided into two very different acts. Act 1, Dubboo: Songman, focussed primarily on...