This week Emma Cook covers a story of a different kind – Ngapartji Ngapartji – one of the most successful acts at this year's Sydney Festival.

The story tells the story of two brothers whose family was removed from their land at Maralinga in the 1950s, to make way for British nuclear testing.

The brothers themselves – Trevor and Jangala Jamieson – perform the play, which deals with losing their connection to culture and brotherly love. Despite playing to sold out audiences, it remains a difficult story for the men to tell.

“I talk about these things because it helps me reflect, to see where I'm at…and it's healing every night,” Trevor says.

“It’s healing for Jangala each time we do the show, it torments him a lot.”

The play is a performing masterpiece, with Jangala standing in the background, playing the character of their grandfather.

"It's a beautiful thing to actually share with everybody really because it's always hurt us in a long time- ever since I've been told the actual story", says Jangala.

Transcript

KG: The word 'ngapartji ngapartji' in the Pitjantjatjara language of the Western Desert means "I give you something, you give me something." As video journalist Emma Cook discovers, it sums up the relationship between brothers Trevor and Jangala Jamieson who star in the play of the same name. The play will be touring communities in South Australia and the Northern Territory later this year.

Reporter: It was the longest running play in this year's Sydney Festival. 'Ngapartji Ngapartji' is principal actor Trevor Jamieson's family history. Having lived in Maralinga, South Australia, for countless generations, his family was removed from their land to make way for British nuclear testing in the 1950s.

Trevor Jamieson, Principal Actor: 12 years old I was when I had to do an essay for a school. It was interesting that one of my grandfathers in Esperance spoke about the bombs, the Maralinga bombs, so that got me interested.

Reporter: Behind the scenes is another story of brotherly love and one family's struggle stemming from forced removal from their homeland.

Trevor Jamieson: There was a pattern of losing a bit of language, losing a bit of culture, along the way. And how is it that we can stop that pattern and make connections back to our culture and language and stuff.

Reporter: Throughout the play, Trevor's brother, Jangala, stands in the background, playing the character of their grandfather.

Jangala Jamieson: It's a beautiful thing to actually share with everybody really, because it's always hurt us in a long time, ever since I've been told the actual story. I've noticed when we've lost a lot of ancestors. We were once a big tribe. We still are. We're pretty much hidden, though.

Home Video from 'Ngapartji Ngapartji': I was born and bred here. I just got to show these people who I am. It's not my fault, man - I don't look for trouble.

Reporter: Home videos are included in the play showing a very different Jangala, a Jangala struggling to deal with wider Australian society having spent his early life on Pitjanjara land, not learning English till he was five years old.

Jangala Jamieson: Growing up out in spinifex land and coming to the towns, it was pretty scary, knowing I left the rest of the family back out in the community. There's also some troubles where I've always found myself incarcerated, more than a couple of times. That was quite hard too. My actual feeling is like I shouldn't have been exposed into society. I should have been left alone, back out bush.

Trevor Jamieson: I deal with Jangala's life back then and how it used to torment him a lot. He was an example of a future generation that was under threat of the culture dying.

Reporter: Despite playing to sold-out audiences where ever 'Ngapartji Ngapartji' goes, the play remains a difficult story for the brothers to tell.

Trevor Jamieson: I talk about these things because it helps me reflect to see where I'm at and where my family are going to go towards. It is healing for me, it is healing for Jangala. Each time we do the show, it torments him a lot. We don't talk about it. We can't get too personal with each other.

Reporter: At the end of the Sydney season, their mother travelled from Western Australia to see her two sons perform.

Gail Yorkshire-Selby, Mother: I can't explain, it's so powerful. I'm so proud of them. It was the most powerful and most emotional experience I have been through, and for Trevor and Jangala... even Jangala's story - our suffering's still going. But I see light at the end of the tunnel.