On May 27, 1967, an Australian national referendum was held affecting the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. What it did was amend the Australian Constitution to remove specific phrases and provisions discriminatory of Australia's indigenous population, and is seen as giving full citizenship rights to the Aborigines.

To commemorate the 1967 referendum, and the struggles of the Aboriginal people before and after that historic day in 1967, an Adelaide community theatre production, Never Turning Back, is being staged this month at Adelaide's Festival Centre.

Never Turning Back has been developed by Widjarookie (Willy Wagtail) Players. The production team is led by an executive committee comprising well-known Aboriginal leaders Muriel VanDerByl, Val Power, Shirley Peisley, David Rathman and Frank Lampard.

The community cast features Diat Alferink, David Rathman, Uraine Mastrosavas, Bradley Harkin, Val Power and Muriel VanDerByl and a support cast of more than 25 indigenous and non-indigenous friends and supporters who act and sing in the new 90-minute show.

Performances are in The Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre, from May 23 to 27, with five evening performances at 7.30pm, two school shows on May 23 and 24 at 10.30am, and one May 26 matinee at 2pm, culminating in the final show on the night of Referendum Day itself.

Tickets are $30, concession $20, school show $8. Bookings at Bass on 131-246 or bass.net.au.

• Aboriginal Life and Culture