Ruby's Story is the story of Ruby Hunter and Archie Roach, who form one of Indigenous Australia's most widely admired song-writing teams. They appear on stage with ten members of the Australian Art Orchestra, each a respected performer in their own right, including many of the country's finest soloists.

Through their songs and on-stage banter Ruby and Archie invite us to enter into the story of their lives, central to which are their experiences as members of the Stolen Generations, and includes their seemingly pre-destined first meeting in Adelaide, up to the present day.

Ruby's Story is often heart-rending but ultimately uplifting; as Ruby and Archie tell their story we feel honoured to be present.

Commissioned by the AAO and arranged by legendary pianist Paul Grabowsky the songs also include such seminal works as 'Took the Children Away' and 'Down City Streets'. Played by the exceptional musicians of the Australian Art Orchestra the 'minimalist gems' of Hunter and Roach come to life in this absorbing musical experience in which each song is introduced by the performers in their own unique style.

Australian Art Orchestra
The Australian Art Orchestra is a permanent ensemble of 20 musicians led by artistic director Paul Grabowsky. It is a Melbourne-based company with members from around Australia. Depending upon the production, the AAO can appear in many configurations from one to 20 players. The AAO has been collaborating with Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter since 2004 starting out with Ruby's Story which was expanded to become Kura Tungar which will, in turn, be fully developed into Bloodstream, a large-scale, multi-media music theatre work. In the meantime Ruby's Story has proven so popular that the AAO continue to tour it.

The AAO has a proven track record in producing large-scale music-theatre including: Testimony: Legend of Charlie Parker (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide) and Into the Fire (Melbourne Festival), Ruby's Story (Sydney, Adelaide, Festival de Mexico Centro Historico) and Kura Tungar: River Songs & Stories (Melbourne Festival). Bloodstream will premiere in 2008. The AAO has five commercial recordings, including two on the Australian Art Orchestra Recordings label. Along with commissioning in excess of 40 new works the AAO is a respected trans-cultural collaborator. It has performed, recorded and toured Europe and India with South Indian percussion virtuoso Guru Kaaraikkudi Mani (Into the Fire) and its acclaimed music theatre work Theft of Sita, involving Art Orchestra and Balinese gamelan musicians, has toured Europe and New York. Currently the AAO is involved in a long term collaboration with traditional song keepers from Arnhem Land called Crossing Roper Bar.

Contact:
Ann Moir
Australian Arts Orchestra
Arts House Meat Market
Office 18, 5 Blackwood Street
North Melbourne VIC 3051
Tel +61 3 9329 0936
annmoir@aao.com.au
www.aao.com.au