Stories beneath the earth above

The Adelaide Fringe Festival is no stranger to big ideas and bold storytelling, but this year, something different took the stage. The Earth Above, the planetarium experience weaving together ancient knowledge, deep memory, and cutting-edge technology, drew a packed crowd of over 500 people—an audience eager to hear how these stories come to life.

Gunaikurnai knowledge was at the heart of the conversation. The mulla-mullung of Cloggs Cave—a story carried across Gunaikurnai Country last year—found new ground at Fringe, connecting past and present in ways that feel as immediate as ever. On stage, Uncle Russell Mullett, together with Bruno David from Monash University and the remarkable Pappin family from Mutthi Mutthi Country, shared the journey behind The Earth Above and what it means to take these stories beyond Country, into new spaces, and onto new platforms.

Of course, The Earth Above isn’t just an experience. It’s a meeting place—where songlines meet science, where history meets innovation. Supported by CABAH and brought to life through the Deakin Motion Lab, particularly the work of Nathan and Martin, the project is proof that our stories don’t sit still. They evolve, they move, and they carry us forward.

That night in Adelaide, it wasn’t just about looking up at the stars—it was about grounding ourselves in the knowledge that’s been here all along. And if the energy in the room was anything to go by, this is only the beginning.

You can watch the presentation at: https://bit.ly/3R7pPOw