181 Regent St: Addressing Black Theatre Exhibition

Presented by Sydney Festival and Carriageworks in association with ABC

In 1972 the National Black Theatre emerged from Regent Street, Redfern with an explosion of plays, dance, activist poetry, biting satire and street theatre, giving new voice to the struggles of the 1970s and the Redfern Aboriginal community.

During its five years of operation, this astonishing cultural renaissance spawned landmark playwrights such as Kevin Gilbert, Robert Merritt and Jack Davis, as well as the careers of remarkable actors such as Bob Maza, Lillian Crombie and Justine Saunders, cultural activist Gary Foley and director Brian Syron.

Curator Rhoda Roberts, one of Australia's leading arts practitioners and from the first generation of actors to reap the benefits of the early years of National Black Theatre, creates a compelling program of work celebrating the past and future of black theatre in Australia.

The pervasive legacy of 181 Regent St and this extraordinary time is explored in a special anniversary exhibition that draws on personal archives, film and photographs to tell the story of the National Black Theatre and the people who were involved.

Covering pioneering works such as The Cherry Pickers and The Cake Man the exhibition considers where it all began and the ongoing influence of the National Black Theatre on contemporary Aboriginal theatre today.

The exhibition is curated by Tess Allas from the College of Fine Arts, UNSW

Company/production special thanks and acknowledgements