NAIDOC Week Shines a Spotlight on Award Winning Talent at The Empire
This Naidoc week, take a look at the wealth of award winning First Nations performances set to hit our stages.
This NAIDOC Week, The Empire shines a spotlight on the wealth of award-winning First Nations performances set to hit our stages featuring everything from musical theatre and ballroom dance, through to contemporary dance and incredible storytelling by some of the county’s most prestigious arts companies.
Heralded as a new landmark in Australian musicals, The Sunshine Club, written and directed by proud Noonuccal Nuugi man and acclaimed theatre creator, Wesley Enoch AM, is an energetic Matilda and Deadly award-winning production with music by John Rodgers.
Set in a 1940s Brisbane dance club, the play revolves around Aboriginal serviceman Frank Doyle who has come home from World War II to open The Sunshine Club, a place for both black and white to socialise and dance.
Enoch noted The Sunshine Club was written to bring people together, celebrating the stories of our history.
“I’m very excited about directing The Sunshine Club again twenty years on and the idea that plays can keep talking to their audiences year after year, creating classic stories through music theatre," he said.
It’s both an invitation for the audience to sit together – black and white – and also the way of celebrating more indigenous writing and more indigenous stories.
Wesley Enoch, AM
The Sunshine Club is on stage September 16.
World renowned ballroom dance company, Burn the Floor collaborate with Indigenous star Mitch Tambo to create a groundbreaking and inspirational show that embraces Indigenous culture and music, combining ballroom and Latin dance styles for Walanbaa Yulu-Gi: Burn the Floor on August 2.
Tambo’s passion for sharing his culture to wider audiences drives this performance, along with a soundtrack of Australian rock classics, Tambo’s own musical compositions and the energy of 20 dancers, vocalists and musicians.
First Nations dance powerhouse, Bangarra Dance Theatre bring the profound SandSong: Stories from the Great Sandy Desert to The Empire on November 8.
SandSong draws on the knowledge and memories of the past to present a journey into ancient story systems framed against the backdrop of changing government policy and the survival of people determined to hold strong to their culture.
SandSong was co-choregraphed by former Bangarra Artistic Director Stephen Page and current Artistic Director Frances Rings, created in consultation with Wangkatjungka/Walmajarri Elders from the Kimberley and Great Sandy Desert regions.
“SandSong is a glimpse into the world of the Walmajarri people from the Great Sandy Desert and their inspirational story of survival as they overcome adversity to defend their land, identity and cultural rights,” Page said.
For more information or to book ticket to any of these performances, please contact The Empire on 1300 655 299 or visit empiretheatre.com.au.
#What’s New
After four sold-out shows in September of this year, Theatre of Magic is returning by popular demand to The Empire for a six-month series of performances.
The Empire Foundation has continued their commitment to supporting and nurturing the young performers of the region with the presentation of the 2024 Empire Youth Bursaries.
The Southern Queensland Regional Arts Services Network (RASN) will shine a light on talented artists across Southern Queensland with the creation of a high-quality publication aimed at celebrating the spirit and stories of Southern Queensland art and culture.
A remarkable true story of unity, humanity and hope lands on The Empire stage when Tony and Olivier Award-winning hit Broadway musical Come From Away performs from 14 – 23 March 2025.
The Empire’s popular family festival Thrive on Arts will return from September 26-29, celebrating all things nature and the environment.
In the lead-up to 2024 NAIDOC Week celebrations, The Empire launched their Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in support of their ongoing commitment to fostering reconciliation in Australia.
