The unlikely setting of war torn Torres Strait during the 1940s takes centre stage in the Queensland Theatre’s production of Othello, where Jimi Bani’s life story intertwines with a little known chapter of Queensland history.

Set between Cairns and the Torres Strait Islands, Bani and director Jason Klarwein’s adaptation pays tribute to the Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion, and the 800 Torres Strait Islander men who volunteered to protect the northern tip of Australia during World War II.

While many people know the history of the bombings of Darwin during the war, few outside of Queensland’s far-north know that Horn Island and the Strait were bombed more than 500 times.

Bani’s ancestors were on the front line, and he said “I continue to carry all these men and women in my heart”.

“My family and I have such a strong connection to this story and the setting,” Bani said.

“My grandfather, the late Solomon Gela, and my great grandfather, the late Ephraim Bani Senior, both enlisted – as did all able-bodied Torres Strait Islander men.

“Growing up on Thursday Island, my brothers and I had the privilege of hearing their war stories. I’m so proud and excited to step out to share their stories as part of Othello.

“I think it’s such a great opportunity to make awareness of the 51st battalion and Torres Strait Islander Light infantry, and in a sense where we can open up that conversation, and dive in deeper, just into a section of many of our histories of this country.

“And the more we dive into the scenes and we set it at that time, it just fits so well. The racial politics, the gender politics, the connection to spirituality, the faith.”

Historic image of the Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion (Image: Supplied)

So it seems only right that Bani’s brothers Richard, Conwell and Gabriel also play an integral part in the show, stepping in as both soldiers and dancers.

Bani said the trilingual production (Kala Lagow Ya, Yumpla Tok and English) weaves two great storytelling traditions together, with this era of change and danger actually fitting perfectly into the ruinous twists and turns of the Shakespearean tragedy.

“It just blows my mind in why I love playing Othello and the amazing writing of Shakespeare, and how we can implement our languages to it,” he said.

“It’s just really lovely to see how, when we do implement all of these languages together, that it’s ours now. Including the Shakespeare language, it’s ours. We, as individual performers, own it, which is awesome.

“When I do speak my tongue, it’s not so different to speaking Shakespeare language. So this time around it’s actually, I own it now. So that’s a beautiful thing about it, too.”

This production originally premiered at the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair in 2021, but Bani said the show has evolved since.

“We’ve gone deeper,” he said. “I think we are so blessed to be in this position to have a crack at it again.

“We did it in a sense where the religious beliefs of the characters come up more, and how much does that have impact on their movements within how they navigate themselves – whether it’s the cultural law from the people of the Islands or the Christianity of Catholic or Pagan, all of that too. It’s just so much juicier.

“I can’t believe this script that’s been written so many years ago, and on the other side of the world, we are just so connected in a sense with storyline relationships, the elements, the spirituality of it.”

He said he’s thrilled to be have that nightly connection with live audiences again, and to bring this intrinsically north Queensland story to the people of Brisbane.

“I’m just so excited for this to be shown down in Brisbane,” Bani said.

“Once when we put the true complexities in it…it becomes more than just watching a show. It actually becomes a reflection, it becomes our story. It’s everyone’s.

“And that’s what we try to aim, as storytellers. If we can have an impact in a way to either start a conversation or to bring awareness to something or just to entertain and have people escape for the night or the day out just to come watch theatre, this is one of the shows that I just can’t wait to share it.”

Queensland Theatre Artistic Director Lee Lewis said the energy in the Cairns audiences watching Othello was electric.

“It was one of the first times I have felt an Australian audience truly own Shakespeare,” Lewis said.

“Power, race, jealousy, colonialism and war all meet as the Elizabethan world is revisioned through the eyes of Jimi and Jason, two great Queensland artists.

“Jimi Bani has once of the greatest theatrical voices in the country and hearing him speak Shakespeare’s text would be great enough, but watching him thread the power of own language into the performance is truly thrilling.

“And the aeroplane dance! And the songs! This is an Othello the whole country needs to see.”

Emily Burton will play Desdemona, with Benjin Maza as Cassio, Tia-Shonté Southwood as Bianca, and Eugene Gilfedder as Brabantio. Matt McInally will take on the role of Roderigo, Sarah Ogden plays Emilia and Kevin Hides is Lieutenant Colonel.

Queensland Theatre’s Othello plays at the Bille Brown Theatre from September 10 to October 1.