37: The play that exposes the dark underbelly of Footy

“Some will get what I’m trying to say, some won’t. And the same could be said about the concept of reconciliation.” (Nathan Maynard/Writer)

37 by Queensland Theatre follows the raucous journey of the fictional Cutting Cove Currawongs in their relentless fight for premiership glory. The story is set within the era of Adam Goode’s famous war cry and named after the immortalised number he wore on his AFL jersey. 

The Cutting Cove Currawongs are the underdogs in AFL in their small coastal town. In fact, they’ve spent so long at the bottom of the footy ladder, they’re basically rusted on! Cue the arrival of marngrook (from the Gunditjmara language word for ‘game ball’) cousins Jayma (Ngali Shaw) and Sonny (Tibian Wyles) with whose help, winning seems very possible, if only the rest of the team ...

37 is penned by Trawlwoolway playwright and twice-named Tasmanian First Nations Artist of the Year, Nathan Maynard. NEHIB interviewed two of the creatives, Co-choreographer Waangenga Blanco and lead actor Ngali Shaw, about their thoughts on their creative vision and cultural narrative for the show. 

Co-choreographer Waangenga Blanco (R) with Director and Co-choreographer Isaac Drandic (L). Image: Joshua Scott

Blanco is renowned for his work with the prestigious Bangarra Dance Theatre and won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer at the Australian Dance Awards in 2014. Footy is extremely athletic and yet in 37 Blanco’s skillful choreography depicts the game as if it were a captivating dance. Blanco says “It was important at the beginning of the process to allow the actors to find their own style and flavour to the movement”.

This process involved getting all the men comfortable in their bodies and removing any conditioning that they might have had around insecurities associated with dance. “It was about getting them familiar with the movement and allowing them to take ownership of their expression” explains Blanco. He adds that actors have a wonderful self-awareness which allowed for a beautiful few weeks of play during rehearsals and that ultimately brought awareness to each cast member, and for them to work as one organism. Blanco continues “Breath was the connecting thread through every movement”.

In the play, Blanco expanded his choreographic approach to incorporate elements of traditional Indigenous dance movements. He says that learning more about the history of AFL and its origins in marngrook, a game he noted was played by mobs in Southern Victoria using a possum skin ball filled with reeds, inspired him to call on movement that honoured the original intention of the game. His movements in 37 were played for joy and coming together. ”I feel that the land informs the people and the people shape the land, so it was a no-brainer to draw inspiration from these places and spaces in which the game originated’’ adds Blanco. 

The changes in tempo, physicality and movement are exceptional in 37. During rehearsals, Blanco took the opportunity to refine and fine tune the outcome of the choreographed sequences. To begin with, this process involved lots of play thanks to director Isaac Drandic who gave Blanco full trust and permission to bring the actors into the ceremony right from the get-go.  He went on to explain his meaning of ceremony. “By treating the process and the rehearsal as something sacred ..... a safe place to peel back the layers of the story and invite truth into the room”. Blanco says that they had a lot of fun in the process, and he was really conscious to not get stuck in a mindset of perfection but instead for each of the cast members to find a deeper connection with one another. “Connection not perfection was the mantra” he added. 

Ngali Shaw (R) with Tibian Wyles (L). Image: Pia Johnson

Ngali Shaw, breakout star and the 2024 recipient of the Australian Academy of Cinema, Tevision and Arts’ (AACTA) Brian Walsh Award, plays star recruit Jayma with whose help the Cutting Cove Currawongs might just be able to reclaim the much coveted AFL win.  In the program, writer Nathan Maynard commented by saying that “I won’t go into the themes I touch on in the work because that’s why I wrote the play… ”. NEHIB was keen to find out more about Shaw’s modus operandi in bringing some of these themes to life on stage. “Be authentic as possible” says Shaw simply.

37 has earned rave reviews from its opening shows at the Melbourne Theatre Company, including an uproarious standing ovation on the opening night here in Brisbane. Shaw has been praised for his role as Jayma. When quizzed about his onstage persona’s superpower, Shaw replies “My unbreakable heart!”. 

The choreography in 37 is nothing short of spellbinding and is wonderfully juxtaposed against the pure physicality and raw athleticism of AFL. Shaw notes that his position with the NSW Public Schools Aboriginal Dance Company contributed towards his overall dance skills when interpreting Blanco’s choreography. “Yes! It made the job a lot easier" he replied confidently.  

This is an excellent show par none that can be enjoyed by both arts and footy lovers. By including the vessels of sportsmanship, authenticity, integrity and an outstanding dialogue, this quality production aptly conveys the community spirit, thrilling energy and intense physicality of this much loved and popular sport. The talented ensemble tackles the deep themes that Maynard covers in this play with humour, energy and a whole lot of heart particularly when the top dogs are pitted against the underdogs. 

37 is indeed, as Maynard puts it, a ‘play about footy that’s also nothing about footy’. 

37 plays at Queensland Theatre’s Bille Brown Theatre in South Brisbane until 4 May 2024.