Australian theatre has clocked a new milestone today, as the National Theatre of Parramatta announces an all-BIPOC-led program for 2024 – the first non-Indigenous theatre company to do so.
The season includes four works, all written, directed and performed by Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) theatre-makers.
NTofP's executive producer Joanne Kee told ABC Arts: "We are putting the nation on stage."
"There is so much talent in [the BIPOC theatre] space, that it wasn't even a choice. I just chose four incredible works that are of now, are incredibly smart yet accessible and have viewpoints that speak to a broader range of audiences than some of the more traditional classics programming."
NTofP is an independent theatre company based in the heart of Sydney's most vibrant multicultural hub, Parramatta. It may be small, but under Kee's leadership, NTofP punches above its weight.
"Our stories reflect and resonate with the people you see in our streets and we go that extra mile to make sure they are on our stages, behind the scenes and in our audiences," says Kee.
First Nations companies like ILBIJERRI Theatre Co and Moogahlin Performing Arts have a strong history of programming First Nations-led work, but non-Indigenous companies and producers have lagged behind – many drawing criticism in recent years for a pronounced lack of diversity.
But NTofP is among those leading by example.
In its 2024 season line-up are a number of Australian premieres: a brand new play from Lebanese Australian playwright James Elazzi titled Karim; a black-comedy-meets-Greek-Tragedy called Guards at the Taj by Obie-award-winning American playwright Rajiv Joseph; and Yoga Play by Calcutta-born playwright Dipika Guha, described as a "scathing and sassy take-down of cultural appropriation".
The first show of 2024 will be a co-production with UK-based Javaad Alipoor Company, titled Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World. It centres on the unsolved murder of 70s Iranian pop star Fereydoun Farrokhzad (dubbed "the Iranian Tom Jones"), who was found brutally murdered in an apartment in Germany while living there as a refugee in the early 90s.
The show premiered in Manchester in 2022 to five-star reviews and will be re-mounted in January as part of Sydney Festival.
"Our program offers work that is genuinely world-class, it's authentic, accessible and speaks to now," says Kee.
"All our works are by living playwrights and the global viewpoint of human experiences is reflected in the shows that we present and commission."
What is the National Theatre of Parramatta all about?
As a company, NTofP is relatively young. It was established in 2015, with the aim of developing and staging work that reflects the diversity of contemporary Australia.
But its growing recognition across the sector has come not just from its bold cultural remit, but from its ever-growing list of stand-out alumni.
Numerous early-career creatives who first cut their teeth with NTofP are now getting work on Australia's main stages and on screen, including playwright James Elazzi (Lady Tabouli; Queen Fatima), writer-director Priscilla Jackman (White Pearl; The Barber of Seville) and director-actor Zindzi Okenyo (Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner; Is God Is; Totally Completely Fine).
"Whilst we have an end [goal] of producing and presenting critically and audience acclaimed work, underpinning this is always the thought, 'how do we support artists and make sure they receive meaningful opportunities to be part of the professional sector?'" says Kee.
"I have a really different approach to theatre-making, which embeds opportunities for developing craft and professional opportunities into every production," says Kee.
Fostering new talent is one of Kee's major priorities, and includes attaching artists to shows, mentoring dramaturges and producers, and running specialist upskilling programs.
It's the thing she's most proud of.
"We really invest time and energy into ensuring that artists are properly supported, so that they can do their best and go on to more opportunities.
"Their trajectories speak for themselves."
Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World is at Sydney Opera House for Sydney Festival from January 19-21, 2024.
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2023-11-13 05:18:17Z
CBMibWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIzLTExLTEzL25hdGlvbmFsLXRoZWF0cmUtb2YtcGFycmFtYXR0YS0yMDI0LXRoZWF0cmUtc2Vhc29uLWJpcG9jLWxlZC8xMDMwOTg2MzDSAShodHRwczovL2FtcC5hYmMubmV0LmF1L2FydGljbGUvMTAzMDk4NjMw
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