Munjarra Ballet Costume Design Collection

These are the original hand drawn costume designs for the ballet Munjarra, performed in 1956 at His Majesty’s Theatre in Perth, Western Australia. This is believed to be the first Indigenous themed ballet production in Western Australia.

The costumes were created by Barbara Helen Devitt (née Pretty). Barbara Devitt also wrote the narration which was part of the ballet’s performance. A talented seamstress, it is likely that Barbara also made the costumes that she designed and that were used in the production.

Munjarra was performed by the Joan Stacy School of Dance, the pre-eminent dance school of its day in Perth. Joan Stacy and her husband were European migrants – thought to have been from Poland – who had Anglicised their names.

Felicity Helen Littleton (née Devitt), daughter of Barbara Helen Devitt, tells the story of the Munjarra ballet from a strong recollection of events relating to her own lifelong interest in dance:

“Mum (Barbara Devitt) had some trouble with the other parents at the Joan Stacy School of Dance, who felt strongly that their sons and daughters should be dressed as Princes and Princesses, rather than natural creatures”.

Collection summary: A sketchbook of costume designs for Western Australia's first Indigenous themed ballet production