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Torres Strait docudrama Blue Water Empire enlists Ryan Corr, Jack Thompson

Blue Water Empire.

Filming has begun in Far North Queensland and the Torres Straits on Blue Water Empire, the three-part docudrama on the history and culture of the Torres Strait Islands set to air on the ABC next year.

The cast list has filled out with a who's who of the local scene: Jack Thompson, Ryan Corr, Damian Walshe-Howling, Aaron Fa’Aoso, Jimi Bani, Roy Billing, Geoff Morrell, Jeremy Lindsay Taylor, Peter Phelps, Merwez Whaleboat, Robert Mammone and Damian de Montemas. 

The series is being produced by Aaron Fa’Aoso and Jimi Bani's Lonestar Company in partnership with Bunya Productions, led by producers David Jowsey and Greer Simpkin (Goldstone). It was commissioned by the ABC with assistance from Screen Australia and Screen Queensland.

“It’s an honour to be telling the stories of our amazing people and their contribution, over the last two centuries, to the history of Torres Strait Islanders and wider Australia," said Fa’Aoso. "Blue Water Empire also critically underpins our aspiration to develop the film and television industry in Far North Queensland and the Torres Straits”.

ABC’s Head of Scripted Content Sally Riley called Blue Water Empire "a strikingly original and distinctive dramatised documentary series and we are delighted that so many of Australia’s finest actors are helping bring to life the fascinating history of the Torres Strait Islands.”