A resident at the Riverside Theatres, The National Theatre of Parramatta (NTofP) launched its operation in 2015. The company aims to reflect multicultural Australia on stage, with particular focus on ethnic and socio-economic diversity. As an arm of Riverside Theatres, NTofP commissions, creates, produces, presents and tours work. They are equally committed to capacity building and nurturing talent by providing opportunities for theatre practitioners both on and off stage to develop their craft. NTofP is creating and presenting transformative and inspirational professional theatre experiences that reflect the world around them and the diversity that is Australia. Their tagline – ‘Putting the Nation on Stage’.
The Girgensohn Foundation is supporting a new initiative Staging the World, an intensive skills development program for artists, to work with and receive mentorship from international BIPOC (black, indigenous, and people of colour) creatives who have significant experience, knowledge, networks and profiles. They will assist developing artists in Australia forge strong professional careers. One aim is to advance the participants’ understanding of organisational structures around the theatre world and how to navigate these, e.g. vocabulary, negotiating, how the theatre world operates in different countries, similarities and differences. Another goal is raising visibility of Australian artists. Additional workshops and talks will be offered to the broader community to more broadly share the expertise of guest artists.
In 2025 NTofP welcomed UK based artist Azan Ahmed. Azan is an actor, poet and award-winning playwright, he has performed at the National London, Almeida and Globe. Azan’s play Statues had a sold-out season at the Bush Theatre. He is writing a commission from Hampstead Theatre. His play, Daytime Deewane (2023 Office Award for Best Writing) featured as part of NTofP’s performance season in September 2025.
The Staging the World Program hosted 7 participants and focused on a combination of three disciplines: Spoken Word, performance and playwriting. The rationale for this choice is to open the world of theatre to spoken world poets and to broaden the horizons of playwrights and actors.
Providing space, time and creative support, the program nurtures the creation of new work in spoken word/monologue whilst exploring the artform’s relationship to other disciplines such as theatre, dance, digital art, and interrogating the opportunities these offer for pushing the boundaries of their artistry.
The end of the program was the Spoken Word evening presented at NTofP’s Heartland Festival.