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Articles by Wesley Enoch
Cassar-Daley and Moss on the road again
By CHRISTIAN MORROW Troy Cassar-Daley is an artist who always seems to be out there somewhere, setting up for another show out beyond the horizon. In times like these, it’s somehow re-assuring to know he is out there somewhere, a force for good in the world.
Inaugural Rhoda Roberts Oration
Rhoda had that rare capacity to make you feel loved and challenged at exactly the same time. I don’t think she saw much distinction between the two. To care about an artist was to expect something from the work. To care about community was to be willing to have difficult conversations. And to care about a people and a place was to believe that the country could be more truthful, more generous and more interesting than it sometimes allows itself to be.
The Seven Stages of Grieving
The first performance of The Seven Stages of Grieving, thirty years ago, was seen as a landmark production for Aboriginal Theatre. This acclaimed play has been added to Drama and English curriculums, as its complex writing and multiple themes allow for excellent discussion and unpacking, This brand new production from Yirra Yaakin marks the first time this play has been performed by an Aboriginal Theatre company, and is a beautiful, heartfelt production.
Charting the legacy of the First Nations theatrical canon
For NAIDOC Week, guest host Wesley Enoch is joined by First Nations performers, playwrights and programmers who "Keep the Fire Burning" on stages right across the country. Sydney Theatre Company Resident Director Ian Michael and Ilbijerri Theatre Company Artistic Director Rachael Maza discuss the First Nations theatrical canon and whether classic texts like Jane Harrison's Stolen — which Wesley, Ian and Rachael have each directed in its 25-year history — should be staged more often.
Breaking Down Justin's Top 10 Productions of 2023: A Year in Review
Greetings, Theatre Thoughts readers! Justin here, content creator and founder of Theatre Thoughts. If you've been immersed in our world, you likely have caught wind of my latest exposé, delving into the beating heart of theatre after reaching the milestone of my 100th theatrical production for 2023. If you missed it, fear not – the full article can be found here.
The Visitors - Sydney Theatre Company (NSW)
Written by Jane Harrison. Directed by Wesley Enoch. Reviewed by Justin Clarke Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House Until 14th October, 2023 Tickets: https://www.sydneytheatre.com.au/whats-on/productions/2023/the-visitors 4 STARS - A visually stunning adaption of Jane Harrison's play lights up the Sydney Opera House stage in a play astutely timed in the current climate - I first encountered Jane Harrison’s seminal play, The Visitors at the Sydney Festival in 2020.
Seeking Equivalency
In the past two decades we have observed an immense growth of First Nations protocols in public life. In 2008, we saw the opening of federal parliament begin with a traditional Welcome to Country and now we see acknowledgements of Country at the beginning of meetings, public rallies and the landing of aircrafts.
Wesley Enoch honours the elders of First Nations performing arts
Guest host Wesley Enoch meets three icons of First Nations performing arts. Roxanne McDonald's stage career began more than 30 years ago when she saw an audition flyer for a play based on the poetry of Oodgeroo Noonuccal. She has since graced some of the biggest stages in Australia. Now she's expanding her talent even further, co-directing the new play Don't Ask What the Bird Look Like at Queensland Theatre. You can also see Roxanne touring Australia in Wesley's musical The Sunshine Club.
The 7 Stages of Grieving
THE 7 STAGES OF GRIEVING By Wesley Enoch and Deborah Mailman Directed by Shari Sebbens A testament to love, family and resilience The 7 Stages of Grieving is a vibrant and insightful account of what it means to be an Aboriginal woman in contemporary Australia. On its premiere in 1995 it became an early triumph for Deborah Mailman and Wesley Enoch, and a beloved classic of Australian theatre. A woman stands alone on stage.
The 2021 budget must think big and reinvest in the social capital of ideas
The cash splash of the COVID-19 recovery budget should be used to place arts and creativity at the centre of education and community building, argues Wesley Enoch ahead of Budget 2021. The Vigil, part of Wesley Enoch’s final Sydney Festival as director in 2021. Photo credit: Jacquie Manning. Wesley Enoch Tuesday 11 May, 2021 Big thinking has been unfashionable for too long. Over the past decade, successive leaders have overseen cuts to universities, the arts and public broadcasting.
Wesley Enoch: the 2021 budget must think big and reinvest in the social capital of ideas
Big thinking has been unfashionable for too long. Over the past decade, successive leaders have overseen cuts to universities, the arts and public broadcasting. There has also been a rejection of First Nations attempts to wrestle back dignity and create lasting change for the whole country. When former arts minister George Brandis cut the Australia Council budget by $100 million in 2015 no one could predict the whopping 65 arts companies and 70% of grants to individual artists that would be lost.
Federal Budget 2021-22 | Croakey
On the Budget and mental health, what are the experts saying? Editor: Melissa SweetAuthor: Mental health stakeholderson: May 11, 2021In: Federal Budget 2021-22, mental health, Social determinants of health, suicide Croakey readers can download the Department of Health Budget Briefing Pack here. This post wraps reaction on the mental health announcements from the National Mental Health Commission, menta...
2021
Dive back into the magic of live theatre and reunite with friends. Our 2021 Season is filled to the brim with exciting new stories and perspectives, imaginative takes on iconic classics, the return of a smash-hit production and the world premiere of a toe-tapping Australian musical. BOOKING INFORMATION Act 2 Season Tickets aren’t on sale yet. If you’re a 2020 Season Ticket Holder or 2021 Act 1 package holder, book online from 9am Fri 26 Mar. Act 2 Season Tickets go on sale to everyone from 21 Apr.
The 7 Stages of Grieving
Our 2020 production of The 7 Stages of Grieving was cancelled due to COVID-19. We're thrilled to bring it back in 2021. Find details of the 2021 season here. THE 7 STAGES OF GRIEVING By Wesley Enoch and Deborah Mailman Directed by Shari Sebbens A powerful song of love, strength and survival The 7 Stages of Grieving is a vibrant, funny and insightful account of what it means to be an Aboriginal woman in contemporary Australia.
CTA Sydney - Communicating the Arts
About From 12 – 14 November 2019, Sydney will host the 24th edition of the Communicating the Arts conference (formerly known as Communicating the Museum). During 3 days, our conference will gather around 250 communication and leadership experts working in the arts in Australia and internationally.
Sydney Festival 2019: adventurous stories for a culturally diverse city
This opinion piece was written by Wesley Enoch for The Australian on 22 January. Read the article here. Everyone has a favourite memory of Sydney Festival. We’ve been going for 43 years. Remember when Sydney Festival ran New Year’s Eve? Remember that Nick Cave show? The Ferrython? A fantastic outdoor concert? The great shows from Complicité, Schaubühne Berlin, Cheek by Jowl, or that show with John Malkovich? Sydney Festival is in the business of making memories and we are good at it.
My Music: Wesley Enoch
The new initiative aims to increase the representation of artists with a disability or who are deaf, with applications now open for the 2020 Sydney Festival.
Australia Day: Past, present and future
Noel Pearson says there are three narratives that make Australia – the story of the longest continuous living culture on Earth; the tale of the British colonial project and the institutions that have helped shaped our society; and the narrative of the most successful multi-ethnic, multicultural nation on the planet. Every time we walk the street, we see these three narratives unambiguously intertwined.
Smell the Air: The Nick Enright Inaugural Speech
Imagine a time when you could stand where I am now and look down the hill to the wetlands and sunset orange water of the harbour. Imagine the sight of towering trees that reached for the sun, a sight that has long been replaced with concrete and steel. Imagine the feel of the rock and dirt beneath your feet and the memory of familial footprints that go back millennia. Imagine the smell of rotting undergrowth, sweet flowers and a bitter taste of smoke from camp fires cooking fur-covered meats.
Smell the Air: the inaugural Nick Enright Keynote Address by Wesley Enoch
Imagine a time when you could stand where I am now and look down the hill to the wetlands and sunset orange water of the harbour. Imagine the sight of towering trees that reached for the sun, a sight that has long been replaced with concrete and steel. Imagine the feel of the rock and dirt beneath your feet and the memory of familial footprints that go back millennia. Imagine the smell of rotting undergrowth, sweet flowers and a bitter taste of smoke from camp fires cooking fur-covered meats.
Bangarra Dance Company music director David Page dies
Indigenous composer David Page has died unexpectedly at the age of 55. He was music director of the Bangarra Dance Company and composed the music for their major works, including the music for Bangarra's first feature film, SPEAR. Wesley Enoch is artistic director of the Sydney Festival and a cousin of David Page. He pays tribute to David on RN Drive.
Navigating the murky waters of arts sponsorship
Could I really accept money from a mining company to fund a project about Indigenous soldiers? Doesn't this raise questions on integrity? Yes, but sponsorship and integrity can co-exist, writes Wesley Enoch. Artists are by their very nature ratbags and fringe-dwellers, dissenters and protesters. They are the lone voices on the progressive edge of a society. But since time immemorial, the artist has relied on the largesse of the tribe to allow them space to practise their craft.
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