TUART Hill actor Maitland Schnaars has enjoyed sharing the indigenous history of Rottnest in his latest performance Rottnest after Dark.
The roving performance takes part on the island and follows the dramatic encounters with characters of the island’s past.
Schnaars, a WAAPA graduate who has been acting since 2003, plays a convict in the Aboriginal prison there.
“This project came about through my work in the Greek play The Persians,” Schnaars said.
“I met fellow actor Helen Munt and she was looking for an Aboriginal actor to perform in this play she was working on titled Rottnest After Dark.
“There were two reasons why I said yes. The first was the promenade acting, and the second I liked looking at that aspect of Rottnest.
“I mean, you can’t talk about Rottnest without indigenous history – I like the way she did it, bringing the history to light.”
More than 30 characters appear throughout the performance, with stories covering the Aboriginal prison and the people who lived on Rottnest until the 1970s, sharing the historic settlement area at night.
“We’ve been getting great feedback. The whole experience has been phenomenal,” Schnaars said.
“People have come up to me to tell me it’s great and that means a lot to me because that means they are listening to me. I’m pleased about that.”
Schnaars also performs with traditional Noongar dance group Wadumbah and he is in the process of writing his second play as well as rehearsing for two Shakespearean plays.
Rottnest After Dark closes this weekend. To book, call 9432 9111 or visit www.rottnestisland.com.