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.
2024 the second Staging the World workshop focused on direction and was facilitated by renowned artist and director Mina Morita (Resident Director and Creative Producer, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Washington DC), dedicated to developing fierce, complex and vital theatre.
Seven BIPOC mid-career directors from Western Sydney took part in the intensive weeklong program which was centred around the development of a new production. During the program, participants reviewed the Yoga Play (Dipika Guha) script to develop their own concepts and processes. They also had the opportunity to observe the director in the rehearsal room as well as seeing the full professional production on stage later.
The workshop exceeded participants’ expectations and received very positive reviews.
“The program was very well structured to allow for engagement and learning through both Mina facilitating sessions about directing practice and then us being able to experience it in the flesh within the rehearsal room.”