Wesfarmers support for First Nations arts and culture saw the world premiere of Wundig wer Wilura – the new Wesfarmers Arts musical theatre commission from award-winning songwriters and storytellers, Gina Williams AM and Guy Ghouse, produced for West Australian Opera.

Opening as the centrepiece of the 2024 Perth Festival, Wundig starred an all-First Nations cast performing under the baton of conductor Aaron Wyatt. Mr Wyatt, a Noongar man from Western Australia, recognised as the first Australian First Nations person to conduct a major Australian orchestra.

Wundig brings Noongar language, history and culture to the stage in an acclaimed follow up to the duo’s first opera collaboration, Koolbardi wer Wardong, commissioned by Wesfarmers Arts in 2021.

Williams and Ghouse composed Wundig in consultation with elders on Ballardong Country, telling a story Gina grew up with – one of a young man and young woman who are promised to other people but fall in love and decide to elope, causing a Shakespearean conflict between their two family groups.