Changing the Face of Racism in Australia: An Intracultural Approach to the Exchanges that Occur in the Theatre

Research output: Other contribution to conferencePresentation only

Abstract

In 2014 an article appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald, which outlined that racism in Australia was on the rise. Individuals were discriminated against because of their skin colour, ethnic origin and/or religious beliefs. As a culturally diverse Australian, this report immediately made me question, not only why racism on the rise but how could I as a theatre director help? By offering insights into my personal experiences of intracultural theatre, through my direction in No Worries (Holman, 1989) with the actors from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in Perth, I endeavour to demonstrate how in 2015 our opportunities for cultural exchanges are limitless. If we dare look deeper, we can realise that the meeting of cultures- intracultralism–is offered to us right now, this very minute, in rehearsal rooms all across the country. While as theatre makers we may not be able to stop the increasingly prevalent nature of racism within Australia, maybe by utilising the theatre as a conducive space for cultural discourse, we do have the ability to challenge society’s views towards the stereotype of the other and support those who have been affected by cultural prejudice through misrepresentation. Ultimately asking: could an intracultural approach to the exchanges we made within the theatre, possibly assist in effecting changes towards society’s views on racism?
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 2015
EventAustralasian Association for Theatre, Drama and Performance Studies (ADSA) - University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Duration: 23 Jun 201526 Jun 2015

Conference

ConferenceAustralasian Association for Theatre, Drama and Performance Studies (ADSA)
Abbreviated titleRevisiting The Player’s Passion: The Sciences of Acting in 2015
Country/TerritoryAustralia
CitySydney
Period23/06/1526/06/15

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