Whitefella Yella Tree @ Space Theatre, Adelaide 14/3/2026
Whitefella Yella Tree arrives quietly at the Space Theatre but lands with emotional force.
Presented by Griffin Theatre Company and written by Palawa playwright Dylan Van Den Berg, it combines history, romance and cultural shift in an intimate yet sprawling two-hander.
Set in the early nineteenth century, Whitefella Yella Tree tells the story of Ty of the River Mob and Neddy of the Mountain Mob. Beneath the shade of a lemon tree, their exchanges of information begin as a guarded curiosity before developing into friendship and eventually a first love. The relationship advances on Country on the precipice of a violent transformation with the arrival of British colonisation.
Van Den Berg creates a contemporary script that balances warmth with political acumen. Rather than composing a traditional historical drama, he pivots toward depicting a world in which queerness exists naturally within Indigenous culture before colonial attitudes intervene. In doing so, the script challenges long-held assumptions about sexuality and tradition. At the heart of Whitefella Yella Tree is the love story between Ty and Neddy. Van Den Berg’s dialogue captures the clumsiness and innocence of adolescence with vulnerability and humour.
Co-directors Declan Greene and Amy Sole craft a modern environment to share Ty and Neddy’s story, where the emotional landscape serves as a pivotal force. Their decision to dress the characters in twenty first century garb gives the story an added sense of relatability.
Designer Mason Browne’s set evokes Country through realism and suggestion. The stage is open and uncluttered with the lemon tree affixed as the centrepiece. The sparseness allows attention to be directed toward the performers and encourages the audience to use their imagination to fill the world around them.
The lighting by Kelsey Lee and Katie Sfetkidis works in harmony with Steve Toulmin’s sound design. Together, they substantially adjust the atmosphere throughout the 90-minute runtime. Warm tones suggest the changing sun and the pulses of Country, before giving way to moments of complete darkness and silence. These stark transitions then erupt into harsh white light and a booming rumble. It is an ominous auditory and visual disturbance that effectively signals the emerging colonial threat.
The production relies heavily on its two performers. Both deliver deeply affecting performances. Pertame and Tiwi man Joseph Althouse successfully captures the restless curiosity and vulnerability of Ty. Danny Howard, who grew up on Barrd Country, plays Neddy with an engaging blend of confidence and wariness. The two share a natural chemistry that is engaging and makes the developing relationship believable.
Whitefella Yella Tree is not a large-scale spectacle. It is a thoughtful and quietly devastating love story set against an historical backdrop of upheaval. The power of this production is generated from its simplicity and a story that refuses to be forgotten.
Adelaide Festival Review By Anita Kertes