Railway play tracks back through time

A play based on a popular slice of Pilbara history that uses the knowledge of locals will make its debut at the Karijini Experience this month.

All Aboard the Spinifex Express tells the story of the Marble Bar railway, which carried a wide range of goods between the isolated North West towns of Marble Bar and Port Hedland in the early to mid 1900’s.

Play director Cate Fowler said the story of the railway would be one people from all walks of life could embrace.

“The train was so slow people could walk alongside it, apparently,” she said.

“I thought what a good place that would be to start with given children, whatever their background, know about trains.

“This seemed to be something that belonged to the Pilbara and was a fun thing to focus on, which had this wonderful rich heritage.

“It was such a significant old train; it stopped at various sidings and a lot of aboriginal people were involved in the construction.”

The play will involve indigenous and non-indigenous children alongside Nyiyaparli elder Nora Cooke and a host of puppeteers, dancers and singers.

After the Karijini Experience it will travel to early learning centres in the Pilbara before potentially being showcased around the rest of the State.

Fowler said working with the children in the Pilbara had been wonderful.

“Children are children the world over, they are so receptive to ideas,” she said.

“A lot of the people who have come along and been part of the workshops have said they didn’t think their kids good sit still and concentrate for so long.

“At that age the children are all playing together so we’re hoping to encourage some of the parents to come and see what’s on offer to their children too.”

The Spinifex Express will be shown free on April 17, 19 and 21 during the Karijini Experience.