Right Here – Stories from the Heart
RIGHT HERE – STORIES FROM THE HEART is a Queer creative development program where LGBTQIA+ teenagers can build their creative skills and connect with other young people. Eight emerging artists will develop a 3-5 minute performance piece in workshops with established Queer mentors, building to a development showcase at The Rebel Theatre for a live audience as part of the official Sydney WorldPride 2023 program.
Our official 2023 STORIES FROM THE HEART participants:
- Lilliana Davis
- Kenzie Devai
- Jollee Hacadurian-Sacco
- Jesse Phillips
- Solaris Shariati
- Jack Talty
- Remy Wadwell
- Thalia Wilson
Over the course of two workshop weekends, our eight participants have been developing their pieces and working with established Queer mentors Laneikka Denne, Imbi, Tommy Misa, & Zoe Terakes.
Performance Date: Sunday 5th March at 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Tickets: $5 (+bf). We also offer solidarity tickets to First Nations and low-income people. Please email us directly to book these on [email protected]
This event is recommended for ages 15+
The Rebel Theatre
Pier 2/3, 13A Hickson Road, Dawes Point, NSW 2000, Eora Country
Auslan interpreted performance.
Designated wheelchair spaces available (please request at time of booking).
Digital hearing loop available (please request at time of booking).
KEY ARTISTS AND PRACTITIONERS
LANEIKKA DENNE
MENTOR | (She/her)
Laneikka is an actor and writer from Western Sydney. Laneikka’s debut play DEAD SKIN, written at age 17, was awarded the State Theatre Company Young Playwright’s Award and premiered at Kings Cross Theatre in 2021, published by Australian Plays. Laneikka is the recipient of the Diversity Entertainment Creative Mentorship 2022, her play will be performed in LA and Off-broadway in New York while she works on a feature film adaption of the play at Diversity Entertainment, LLC. Laneikka is producing a program called THE MONOLOGUE COLLECTIVE where teenagers write monologues for teenagers to perform for the HSC, supported by Create NSW, the Rodney Seaborn Foundation, Australian Plays Transform, CWA NSW, PYT Fairfield, and KXT.
TOMMY MISA
MENTOR | (He/they)
Tommy Misa is a Samoan (Toamua)/Australian writer and performer. Tommy’s work crosses different forms in theatre, screen, live performance and community gatherings. Tommy tells stories of Queer and Samoan lives that are celebratory, historically driven and, at times, confronting.
CLAUDIA BAILEY
PROGRAM PRODUCER |
Claud Bailey is an award-winning non-binary filmmaker and community organizer. They make work that celebrates queerness and aim to tell stories that can facilitate change and create tangible impact, to better the lives of LGTBQIA+ young folk. They were awarded the inaugural Wear it Purple Arts and Culture Fellowship for 2023, where they will produce all of WIP’s arts and culture program, including a new yearly grant FOR and BY LGBTQIA+ young people. Claud has made five short films that have screened all over the world and picked up awards such as Young Australian Filmmaker of the Year. Their latest short, RIGHT HERE, which they wrote, directed and produced had its Australian Premiere at Sydney Film Festival as a Dendy Finalist. As part of their fellowship, they received a grant to bring RIGHT HERE to schools all around Australia.
IMBI
MENTOR | (They/them/he/him)
Imbi is a multidisciplinary artist and mystic currently residing on Gadigal Land. Imbi’s practice spans mediums from voice work, to performance art, to poetry, and beyond. Regardless of what form their art takes, Imbi always creates with intention and emphasis on divine connection. Everything Imbi does is ritual. Imbi’s recent creative achievements include contributing a poem to the recently published Nothing To Hide: A Trans Anthology (2022) and being selected for the Queer Nu Werk Development program hosted by PSpace and PACT.
ZOE TERAKES
MENTOR | (They/he)
Actor and transgender activist best known for roles in Marvel’s Ironheart, Nine Perfect Strangers, Wentworth, Janet King and Ellie and Abbie, Zoe is a vocal advocate for trans and non-binary communities in the arts and in the world. His work is both a reflection of his own journey and a reference point for others. Zoe is forever indebted to the work of his predecessors, the trans people, namely the trans people of colour, who fought for the community’s freedom today.
RIGHT HERE – STORIES FROM THE HEART is brought to you by the Australian Theatre for Young People – a company that has been empowering young people and centring their stories for nearly 60 years – and produced by Claudia Bailey, a nonbinary Filmmaker and Writer. Proudly supported by Wear it Purple – a youth-led organisation that strives to foster supportive, safe, empowering and inclusive environments for rainbow young people.
