ARTICLE ABC 10/02/04

[Caroline]

Aboriginal soul group revived for Sydney Festival
The tale of four Koori soul singers from rural Victoria, the MacRae sisters who were known as The Sapphires, is the focus of a unique show at the Sydney Festival.

Set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, it details the lives of the Aboriginal sisters as they entertain the troops with their renditions of Motown songs.

For Laurel Robinson and her sister lois, stardom in Vietnam was a whole new experience.

"It was called a gunship and we were laying down in the back and there was a big mountain and they were firing down at us and I said, 'Oh look, I thought they were fire crackers but they were shooting at us'," Laurel Robinson said.

Director Wesley Enoch says that even though the show is set in the late-60s, its message resonates powerfully today.

"There is a sense of who are we and what are we doing in Vietnam and I think now we are asking the same questions," he said.

Playwright Tony Briggs says for first time the telling of his mother's story is not just about music and politics.

"I just hope that people come along and have a great night at the theatre regardless of politics, religion or race," he said.

The seasoned cast sees it as an opportunity to portray a lighter side of Aboriginal culture.

"I think it's a story that all Australians right across the board will open heartedly embrace and celebrate, it's a very uplifting feel good story," Rachel Maza said.

Fellow cast member Deborah Mailman says the Sapphires are inspiring.

"Yeah, it's fantastic, that's what you want you want people to come away feeling, like their alive and part of a celebration," she said.

"They've just done so much with it their singing, just made us feel so proud."