After debut at six months old, father and son reunite on Bangarra stage

Hunter Page-Lochard was six months old when he joined the family business in a performance of Praying Mantis Dreaming, his father Stephen Page’s first full-length work for Bangarra Dance Theatre.

Page-Lochard says his stage debut was a trick played on a cast member who thought he would be handed a doll instead of a real-life baby.

“It wasn’t a practical joke,” Page says. “It’s just that we didn’t tell the actor who was on stage.”

Bangarra’s outgoing artistic director Stephen Page with son Hunter Page-Lochard.Credit: Louise Kennerley

Three decades later, father and son have teamed up again to create Bangarra’s first dance show for children Waru – journey of the small turtle, which opens on September 24 at the Studio Theatre in the new Walsh Bay Arts Precinct.

Inspired by the life journey of the green turtle, Waru is designed to be an interactive introduction to Torres Strait Islander culture and dance for three to seven-year-olds.

Page went back to the “Bangarra pantry” to choose a show that could be adapted for kids, opting for Corroboree, a triple bill from 2001 based on the song lines of three dreamings – Brolga, Roo and Turtle.

Hunter Page-Lochard has teamed up with his father Stephen Page to create Waru – journey of the small turtle, Bangarra’s first dance show for children.Credit: Louise Kennerley

The show, written by Page-Lochard and directed by his father, Bangarra’s outgoing artistic director, is also concerned with climate change and caring for the environment.

While Waru is Bangarra’s first dedicated work for children, Page says it continues the company’s tradition of presenting shows that “speak to all people”. “I always say story-telling is a huge part of First Nations people kinship and customs.”

Page-Lochard, 29, drew upon his experience working on kid’s television shows such as Play School to “translate what was already there to a format for children to understand”.

He also worked with Page on dance work Skin and the 2015 film Spear. He says working with his father is fun. “I’m always learning something new.”

Stepping back from Bangarra after 32 years has prompted Page to reflect on the sacrifices he and his family made to establish the award-winning Indigenous arts company.

Page-Lochard says he felt as much a part of the Bangarra family as his father. His late uncles – performer and composer David Page and dancer Russell Page – were also part of the dance company.

Besides dance, Page-Lochard also forged a career as an actor from a young age, appearing in movies such as Bran Nue Dae, The Sapphires and most recently on ABC TV’s Fires and Barons.

“I’ve given up my whole personal life to run [Bangarra],” Page says. “I was thinking of Hunter and I thought I’m pretty proud of how he’s just made his own pathway, especially in acting but then going to write and direct.”

Page says his son has had to learn “all the politics you face as a First Nations person creator working in the mainstream” such as overcoming stereotypes or being denied acting roles.

Father and son have learned from each other through their creative collaborations. Page says his son has also taught him to “stay grounded, humbled … and just to respect who you are”.

Page, meanwhile, is a valuable source of advice and reassurance to his son, who has two young daughters – Mila, 3, and Evara, 4 months.

“He says to me, ‘Dad, do I have the patience?’ ,” Page says. “It’ll come bro. Don’t worry.”

Page says his granddaughters are “just inspiring. They give me a sense of life.”

He also sees a creative future for his eldest granddaughter. “She won’t be escaping the arts. She’s a future actress.”

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