Australian First Nations Retreat Participants Announced
We are very excited to introduce the playwrights heading on retreat to Bundanon for our Australian First Nations Retreat. These playwrights will attend a 10-day retreat where they’ll have time to write and receive dramaturgical guidance. After the retreat, the works will receive further long-term support with the aim of getting them to the stage!
Aidan Rowlingson
Aidan Rowlingson is a multidisciplinary artist and producer based on unceded Jaggera and Turrabal country. He is a proud Butchulla man of K’gari and the Wide Bay area. After graduating from the University of Canberra with a Bachelor of Acting and Performance, Rowlingson has worked in classical and contemporary theatre and has also performed original poetry as a part of a number of local events. His theatrical writings include Capricorn developed by QPAC and Moogalin Arts and Tentacles developed for Brisbane Sci-Fi Theatre Festival. His sculptural art, 660, has been displayed at the Queensland Museum, Griffith University Art Museum, & Flinders University Museum of Art. As a producer, he has worked across multiple organizations across South-East Queensland including Digi Youth Arts, Jungle Love Festival, Queensland Music Festival, and La Boite Theatre. Rowlingson currently produces new work and community-focused events at The Queensland Performing Arts Centre.
James Taylor
James Taylor is an award-winning playwright and musician living in Perth, Western Australia. After serving four years as a medic in the Royal Australian Navy, James left to pursue a new life, and in 2014, enrolled in Aboriginal Theatre at WAAPA. It was here that James was introduced to the craft of writing for stage. The following year, James’ first original work, Hobo, was written. Hobo was performed at The Blue Room Theatre as a part of the 2016 Summer Nights program. After receiving a PWA script development, it showed again at The Blue Room for NAIDOC week and as a part of their regular season. Hobo received The Blue Room Theatre Judges Award for Outstanding Emerging Writer and was accepted into the Melbourne Fringe Festival. James then went on to study Contemporary Music at WAAPA, graduating in 2018. James is a multifaceted creative artist of mixed heritage. His work aims to explore relationships, identity, mental health, and the broader social concepts and structures that influence who we are, and how we interact with one another.
Maryanne Sam
A founding member of Ilbijerri Theatre Company, Melbourne, Maryanne completed her Masters in Writing for Performance at VCA, Melbourne University. Maryanne’s credits include Oh My God Im Blak, Yirramboi 2023 (Dir/Prod/CoDevisor) The Whisper by Brodie Murray Melb Fringe Fest. 2022.(Director) Coconut Woman Yirramboi 2021, (Writer/Dir/Prod) Viral Ilbijerri Theatre (Writer) Coconut Woman Readings (Blak and Bright Festival 2019,Ballarat Art Gallery 2018,Malthouse Jan 2018, Yellamundie Festival, Sydney,2017.) Poetic Licence (Outer Urban Productions 2017) Lessons in Flight (Darlinghurst Theatre Company, Syd., 2013) (Festival of The Dreaming,) (The ANPC, Newcastle Sydney,) Forget Me Not (JUTE Theatre Cairns) Casting Doubts (Malthouse/Ilbijerri Theatre) (New York based Aust. Aboriginal Theatre Initiative, 2005/07.) Maryanne is recipient of the inaugural Ilbijerri Theatre’s Uncle Bob Maza Award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Victorian Theatre’, the Centenary Medal for ‘Services to Indigenous Arts’ and the Australia Council for The Arts, ATSI Arts Board Fellowship.
Paula Maling
Paula Maling is a Worimi, Yidinji and South Sea Islander women who grew up in Sydney, in and around the Redfern and La Perouse Aboriginal Communities.
For the past 25 years, Paula has worked within the First Nations Media, Events, Arts, Television and Film industries and has held various positions at SBS Radio Sydney, Triple J Radio Sydney, ABC Television Sydney & Melbourne, Gadigal Information Service Sydney, CAAMA NT and First Nations Media Australia. As well as several NSW Government Departments, University of Technology Sydney, and Sydney University.
In 2007 Paula, created Maling Productions an Indigenous Television Production Company, who have produced an array of works/productions including, live sports panels and events, children’s programs, short documentaries, and community service announcements.
Paula holds appointments on several community organisation boards, such as the Boomalli Aboriginal Arts Corporation and The Health Worker Aboriginal Corporation.
Phoebe Grainer
Phoebe Grainer is a Kuku Djungan, Muluridji, Wakaman, Tagalaka, Kunjen, Warrgamay and Yindinji woman from Far North Queensland. Phoebe is a graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting).
As an actor, Phoebe’s performance credentials include: Black Cockatoo (Ensemble Theatre), Tiddas (La Boite Theatre), Saltbush (Insite Arts), Two Hearts (Kings Cross Theatre), Serpent’s Teeth (Kings Cross Theatre), Doing (Kings Cross Theatre) and Rainbow’s End (Darlinghurst Theatre). This year, Phoebe is in the lead cast for SBS’ new TV Series While the Men are Away.
Phoebe is a Creative Producer at Sweatshop Literacy Movement. Her writing credits include as co-editor and sub-editor for Racism: Stories on Fear, Hate & Bigotry and Blacklight: Ten Years of First Nations Storytelling. Her writing has also appeared in The Lifted Brow, SBS Voices, Red Room Poetry and Sweatshop Women: Volume One and Volume Two and Povo: Stories on Class.
As a playwright, Phoebe was in the Darlinghurst Theatre’s 2020 and 2022 Next In Line program and Griffin Theatre Studio in 2021. She has also worked as a playwright in ILBIJERRI Theatre Company’s BlackWrights program in 2021 and is a playwright in their current 2023 BlackWrights program.
Phoebe is a 2022 finalist for the Queensland Theatre’s Queensland Premier’s Drama Award with her play, Sugar Cane. This year, Phoebe won the Australia Council for the Arts prestigious Dreaming Award.
Waverley Stanley
Waverley Stanley Jnr. is a Gumbaynggirr, Barunggam Birri Gubba man living in Meanjin, Queensland. His career began performing onstage in poetry competitions. His screen credits include the TV show Cleverman and Harrow. Waverley is in his final year for Creative Writing at QUT. In 2019 he was a part of Playlab and QPAC’s emerging writers’ program, Sparks. In 2020 he was part of the La Boite Theatre Company, Assembly program. Waverley is currently writing his first full length theatrical script, based on events from his own life.
This program is supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia.
