Kelton Pell.
Camera IconKelton Pell. Credit: Supplied/Andrew Ritchie d442299

Yirra Yaakin message is the motive for actor Kelton Pell

Tanya MacNaughtonEastern Reporter

KELTON Pell's drive to work as an actor is not for the money, it is for the stories.

And the Perth actor (Redfern Now, The Circuit) has had many opportunities to share important narratives during his long association with Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company, the latest being The Fever and the Fret with Irma Woods and Ebony McGuire.

It was written by Pell's good friend Jub Clerc, who was inspired by the story of her grandparents.

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"It pays respect and homage to our elders, in Jub's case her grandfather Iggy and her grandmother Ruby, while looking at the illness of dementia," Pell said.

"Dementia has no boundaries, it doesn't care what colour your skin is, what race you are or even how old you are.

"Jub is saying we don't want people crying in the theatre all night but it's a very serious story, it's a very sad story and it's the story of love and loss."

Pell said the loss was just not of mind but also loss of country through mining and what the removal of people from country did to Aboriginal spirit, their liyarn.

"They bought houses and then the mining companies came and pushed them out of those houses," Pell said.

"We have to put all of that in to less than two hours of performance.

"It's sharing the cultures and opening of new doors so people can realise and understand more about Aboriginal people.

"We're the only country in the world where no one respects the original people of this land.

"If you go to other countries they respect and honour the culture, religion and the language of those places. Film, television and theatre is a great avenue for us to tell our stories."

THE ESSENTIALS

What: The Fever and the Fret

Where: Subiaco Arts Centre

When: September 10 to 17

Tickets: www.ticketek.com.au