my name is Jules I am a theatre maker I’m a light skinned middle class private
I’m a light skinned middle class private
I’m a light skinned middle class private school educated person I’m a sis woman I
school educated person I’m a sis woman I
school educated person I’m a sis woman I have a master’s degree from the
have a master’s degree from the
have a master’s degree from the University of Oxford and Women’s Studies
University of Oxford and Women’s Studies
University of Oxford and Women’s Studies and what I’m trying to say is I spend a
and what I’m trying to say is I spend a
and what I’m trying to say is I spend a lot of my life nestled in privilege I
lot of my life nestled in privilege I
lot of my life nestled in privilege I thought it would be important for you to
thought it would be important for you to
thought it would be important for you to know that before I keep going because
know that before I keep going because
know that before I keep going because what I’m going to talk to you about is
what I’m going to talk to you about is
what I’m going to talk to you about is decolonization and self-determination so
decolonization and self-determination so
decolonization and self-determination so broadly speaking decolonization is the
broadly speaking decolonization is the
broadly speaking decolonization is the means by which colonial powers both
means by which colonial powers both
means by which colonial powers both structural and cultural are dismantled
structural and cultural are dismantled
structural and cultural are dismantled self-determination is the act of freely
self-determination is the act of freely
self-determination is the act of freely creating your own future these concepts
creating your own future these concepts
creating your own future these concepts have their own relationship in
have their own relationship in
have their own relationship in governance in politics and in law but
governance in politics and in law but
governance in politics and in law but that’s all much too complicated for me
that’s all much too complicated for me
that’s all much too complicated for me so I’m going to focus on how we can
so I’m going to focus on how we can
so I’m going to focus on how we can enact these processes in our creative
enact these processes in our creative
enact these processes in our creative expression both personal and
expression both personal and
expression both personal and professional
professional
professional so as an Australian woman I have
so as an Australian woman I have
so as an Australian woman I have profited from European colonization in a
profited from European colonization in a
profited from European colonization in a lot of ways the houses that I lived in
lot of ways the houses that I lived in
lot of ways the houses that I lived in the jobs that I got my money from they
the jobs that I got my money from they
the jobs that I got my money from they were all on stolen land but as a
were all on stolen land but as a
were all on stolen land but as a Filipino woman I walk around in a
Filipino woman I walk around in a
Filipino woman I walk around in a colonized body I am subject to all
colonized body I am subject to all
colonized body I am subject to all manner of racism casual institutional
manner of racism casual institutional
manner of racism casual institutional sexual so as a theater maker what I do
sexual so as a theater maker what I do
sexual so as a theater maker what I do is make work that’s plays open these
is make work that’s plays open these
is make work that’s plays open these bodies and these identities in order to
bodies and these identities in order to
bodies and these identities in order to flesh out what it means to be both I go
flesh out what it means to be both I go
flesh out what it means to be both I go about it in really random ways I write
about it in really random ways I write
about it in really random ways I write plays for Asian Australian women I
plays for Asian Australian women I
plays for Asian Australian women I attempt stand up and spoken word I try
attempt stand up and spoken word I try
attempt stand up and spoken word I try to sing karaoke and I also come into
to sing karaoke and I also come into
to sing karaoke and I also come into rooms like this one and I chat about my
rooms like this one and I chat about my
rooms like this one and I chat about my personal business whether anyone asked
personal business whether anyone asked
personal business whether anyone asked me to or not that kind of thing
me to or not that kind of thing
me to or not that kind of thing so one question has come up in my
so one question has come up in my
so one question has come up in my practice repeatedly and that question is
practice repeatedly and that question is
practice repeatedly and that question is how do I go about decolonizing myself
how do I go about decolonizing myself
how do I go about decolonizing myself and my practice without erasing myself
and my practice without erasing myself
and my practice without erasing myself entirely in the East Asian theatre
entirely in the East Asian theatre
entirely in the East Asian theatre community in
community in
community in UK one of the biggest questions that we
UK one of the biggest questions that we
UK one of the biggest questions that we face is how to combat our own AirAsia in
face is how to combat our own AirAsia in
face is how to combat our own AirAsia in the British cultural spheres
the British cultural spheres
the British cultural spheres specifically to roughly paraphrase from
specifically to roughly paraphrase from
specifically to roughly paraphrase from the wonderful viewer chalk in her
the wonderful viewer chalk in her
the wonderful viewer chalk in her chapter in the good immigrant East
chapter in the good immigrant East
chapter in the good immigrant East Asians are approximated as the third
Asians are approximated as the third
Asians are approximated as the third largest ethnic group in this country but
largest ethnic group in this country but
largest ethnic group in this country but spend one minute scrolling through BBC
spend one minute scrolling through BBC
spend one minute scrolling through BBC iplayer and you’d be lucky if you could
iplayer and you’d be lucky if you could
iplayer and you’d be lucky if you could count the number of yellow faces that
count the number of yellow faces that
count the number of yellow faces that you see on one hand that’s if you’re
you see on one hand that’s if you’re
you see on one hand that’s if you’re lucky as if our general absence weren’t
lucky as if our general absence weren’t
lucky as if our general absence weren’t enough we seem to be whitewashed out of
enough we seem to be whitewashed out of
enough we seem to be whitewashed out of pretty much everything in sight earlier
pretty much everything in sight earlier
pretty much everything in sight earlier this year in January the print room our
this year in January the print room our
this year in January the print room our once well-regarded Theatre in the West
once well-regarded Theatre in the West
once well-regarded Theatre in the West of London opened a Howard Barker play
of London opened a Howard Barker play
of London opened a Howard Barker play that was set in ancient China no prizes
that was set in ancient China no prizes
that was set in ancient China no prizes for guessing but it featured an
for guessing but it featured an
for guessing but it featured an all-white cast and team what was most
all-white cast and team what was most
all-white cast and team what was most upsetting to me about this was that the
upsetting to me about this was that the
upsetting to me about this was that the play seemed to use Chinese culture and
play seemed to use Chinese culture and
play seemed to use Chinese culture and living histories that belong to real
living histories that belong to real
living histories that belong to real Chinese people in order to promulgate
Chinese people in order to promulgate
Chinese people in order to promulgate some sort of exotic Syst Fantasia for
some sort of exotic Syst Fantasia for
some sort of exotic Syst Fantasia for the benefit of goodness knows what or
the benefit of goodness knows what or
the benefit of goodness knows what or whom the theater ended up defending the
whom the theater ended up defending the
whom the theater ended up defending the play saying that any allusion to ancient
play saying that any allusion to ancient
play saying that any allusion to ancient China was merely invoking the abstract
China was merely invoking the abstract
China was merely invoking the abstract and folkloric idea of the universal
and folkloric idea of the universal
and folkloric idea of the universal which I struggle to believe is actually
which I struggle to believe is actually
which I struggle to believe is actually a thing
a thing
a thing particularly when you have real Chinese
particularly when you have real Chinese
particularly when you have real Chinese people looking at you in the face and
people looking at you in the face and
people looking at you in the face and saying that it’s not so after protests
saying that it’s not so after protests
saying that it’s not so after protests upon protests a bunch of East Asian
upon protests a bunch of East Asian
upon protests a bunch of East Asian theater companies came together and they
theater companies came together and they
theater companies came together and they sent out a survey to the community to
sent out a survey to the community to
sent out a survey to the community to gauge their concerns it found that an
gauge their concerns it found that an
gauge their concerns it found that an overwhelming majority of us had a deep
overwhelming majority of us had a deep
overwhelming majority of us had a deep concern for the lack of East Asian
concern for the lack of East Asian
concern for the lack of East Asian representation in mainstream media and
representation in mainstream media and
representation in mainstream media and therefore a deep desire to be part of
therefore a deep desire to be part of
therefore a deep desire to be part of the British mainstream and yes I am one
the British mainstream and yes I am one
the British mainstream and yes I am one of these people wouldn’t it be nice to
of these people wouldn’t it be nice to
of these people wouldn’t it be nice to see more people who look like me on
see more people who look like me on
see more people who look like me on telly yeah wouldn’t it be nice to feel
telly yeah wouldn’t it be nice to feel
telly yeah wouldn’t it be nice to feel valued and seen and heard just as much
valued and seen and heard just as much
valued and seen and heard just as much as anybody else yes it would be really
as anybody else yes it would be really
as anybody else yes it would be really really nice but if I were to wake up
really nice but if I were to wake up
really nice but if I were to wake up tomorrow to an announcement that the BBC
tomorrow to an announcement that the BBC
tomorrow to an announcement that the BBC ITV channel 4 and sky were each going to
ITV channel 4 and sky were each going to
ITV channel 4 and sky were each going to Commission brand new programmes that
Commission brand new programmes that
Commission brand new programmes that featured all East Asian casts do I have
featured all East Asian casts do I have
featured all East Asian casts do I have any proof that any power has actually
any proof that any power has actually
any proof that any power has actually changed hands earlier this year a
changed hands earlier this year a
changed hands earlier this year a Melbourne based artist and researcher
Melbourne based artist and researcher
Melbourne based artist and researcher called Tania Canas wrote an incredible
called Tania Canas wrote an incredible
called Tania Canas wrote an incredible article and it was called diversity is a
article and it was called diversity is a
article and it was called diversity is a white word in the article Tania
white word in the article Tania
white word in the article Tania foregrounds the notion that in
foregrounds the notion that in
foregrounds the notion that in Australian arts and culture diversity
Australian arts and culture diversity
Australian arts and culture diversity has been deployed in cosmetic terms
has been deployed in cosmetic terms
has been deployed in cosmetic terms which means that white LED organizations
which means that white LED organizations
which means that white LED organizations started paying more attention to the
started paying more attention to the
started paying more attention to the white to non-white ratio of the people
white to non-white ratio of the people
white to non-white ratio of the people in their public images than they did to
in their public images than they did to
in their public images than they did to providing any meaningful support to
providing any meaningful support to
providing any meaningful support to people of color behind the scenes
people of color behind the scenes
people of color behind the scenes Tania writes just because we exist in a
Tania writes just because we exist in a
Tania writes just because we exist in a space does not mean that we’ve had the
space does not mean that we’ve had the
space does not mean that we’ve had the autonomy in the process by which that
autonomy in the process by which that
autonomy in the process by which that existence has occurred and she uses this
existence has occurred and she uses this
existence has occurred and she uses this diagram in order to measure out whether
diagram in order to measure out whether
diagram in order to measure out whether or not that diversity initiative has
or not that diversity initiative has
or not that diversity initiative has actually done anything more than make
actually done anything more than make
actually done anything more than make the organization look good so this is
the organization look good so this is
the organization look good so this is cherry on Stein’s ladder of
cherry on Stein’s ladder of
cherry on Stein’s ladder of participation at the bottom we have our
participation at the bottom we have our
participation at the bottom we have our most tokenistic practices so that’s like
most tokenistic practices so that’s like
most tokenistic practices so that’s like engaging a group of people in order to
engaging a group of people in order to
engaging a group of people in order to just manipulate them for your own
just manipulate them for your own
just manipulate them for your own for your own purposes that’s at the
for your own purposes that’s at the
for your own purposes that’s at the bottom if you climb up a little bit you
bottom if you climb up a little bit you
bottom if you climb up a little bit you get to consultation and plication and
get to consultation and plication and
get to consultation and plication and that’s things like hiring that one
that’s things like hiring that one
that’s things like hiring that one diversity officer for the building so
diversity officer for the building so
diversity officer for the building so that everybody has one person to talk to
that everybody has one person to talk to
that everybody has one person to talk to in relation to all diverse people things
in relation to all diverse people things
in relation to all diverse people things yes so that’s in the middle right at the
yes so that’s in the middle right at the
yes so that’s in the middle right at the top we have delegated power and citizen
top we have delegated power and citizen
top we have delegated power and citizen control and what that entails is a group
control and what that entails is a group
control and what that entails is a group or a community doing their own thing
or a community doing their own thing
or a community doing their own thing that they devise and that they execute
that they devise and that they execute
that they devise and that they execute themselves an organization can come
themselves an organization can come
themselves an organization can come along and support and help so long as
along and support and help so long as
along and support and help so long as there are no strings attached and that
there are no strings attached and that
there are no strings attached and that the power and the control remains firmly
the power and the control remains firmly
the power and the control remains firmly in the community’s hands now let’s go
in the community’s hands now let’s go
in the community’s hands now let’s go back to the weird fantasy that I had
back to the weird fantasy that I had
back to the weird fantasy that I had that all the terrestrial networks were
that all the terrestrial networks were
that all the terrestrial networks were suddenly programming East Asian programs
suddenly programming East Asian programs
suddenly programming East Asian programs for the general British public where do
for the general British public where do
for the general British public where do you think on on Stein’s ladder of
you think on on Stein’s ladder of
you think on on Stein’s ladder of participation that would be the networks
participation that would be the networks
participation that would be the networks themselves are actively trying to
themselves are actively trying to
themselves are actively trying to fulfill a brief of their own so I think
fulfill a brief of their own so I think
fulfill a brief of their own so I think that citizen control and delegated power
that citizen control and delegated power
that citizen control and delegated power out they had commissioner of the network
out they had commissioner of the network
out they had commissioner of the network and the East Asian castes and teams that
and the East Asian castes and teams that
and the East Asian castes and teams that they are employing don’t necessarily
they are employing don’t necessarily
they are employing don’t necessarily have equal power
have equal power
have equal power so that’s partnership out if we’re lucky
so that’s partnership out if we’re lucky
so that’s partnership out if we’re lucky we’re sitting pretty at around the
we’re sitting pretty at around the
we’re sitting pretty at around the consultation plication level which means
consultation plication level which means
consultation plication level which means that east asian people have they have a
that east asian people have they have a
that east asian people have they have a presence in the room that they’re in but
presence in the room that they’re in but
presence in the room that they’re in but when it comes down to the final
when it comes down to the final
when it comes down to the final decision-making that’s down to the
decision-making that’s down to the
decision-making that’s down to the network so what was once and fever dream
network so what was once and fever dream
network so what was once and fever dream of ultra representation is now sort of a
of ultra representation is now sort of a
of ultra representation is now sort of a middle ground goal at best it’s a small
middle ground goal at best it’s a small
middle ground goal at best it’s a small move toward something better than
move toward something better than
move toward something better than invisible at worst however it might
invisible at worst however it might
invisible at worst however it might represent an in Caucasian and
represent an in Caucasian and
represent an in Caucasian and exploitation within a system that was
exploitation within a system that was
exploitation within a system that was not built for us in the first place
not built for us in the first place
not built for us in the first place because no matter how feisty or
because no matter how feisty or
because no matter how feisty or strong-willed these East Asian
strong-willed these East Asian
strong-willed these East Asian characters are they have been created
characters are they have been created
characters are they have been created for mainstream tastes and mainstream
for mainstream tastes and mainstream
for mainstream tastes and mainstream interests so what does this have to do
interests so what does this have to do
interests so what does this have to do with decolonization well my heritage is
with decolonization well my heritage is
with decolonization well my heritage is in the Philippines it’s a country that
in the Philippines it’s a country that
in the Philippines it’s a country that has undergone
has undergone
has undergone hundreds of years of colonization
hundreds of years of colonization
hundreds of years of colonization colonization still has an effect in the
colonization still has an effect in the
colonization still has an effect in the country’s governance its
country’s governance its
country’s governance its education its economic situation and its
education its economic situation and its
education its economic situation and its culture colonialism still has a say in
culture colonialism still has a say in
culture colonialism still has a say in how Filipino bodies walk around in the
how Filipino bodies walk around in the
how Filipino bodies walk around in the world it says that we are more likely to
world it says that we are more likely to
world it says that we are more likely to be mail-order brides to be sexually
be mail-order brides to be sexually
be mail-order brides to be sexually submissive to be compliant to be
submissive to be compliant to be
submissive to be compliant to be adaptable to be trafficked it also says
adaptable to be trafficked it also says
adaptable to be trafficked it also says that whiteness is something to be
that whiteness is something to be
that whiteness is something to be aspired to and that most of us aren’t
aspired to and that most of us aren’t
aspired to and that most of us aren’t white enough therefore we have a
white enough therefore we have a
white enough therefore we have a gigantic skin whitening industry so
gigantic skin whitening industry so
gigantic skin whitening industry so massive that approximately 50% of
massive that approximately 50% of
massive that approximately 50% of Filipino people have tried a skin
Filipino people have tried a skin
Filipino people have tried a skin whitening product or use it on the
whitening product or use it on the
whitening product or use it on the regular in their lives what we need
regular in their lives what we need
regular in their lives what we need isn’t more of that what we need is to
isn’t more of that what we need is to
isn’t more of that what we need is to divest power from what that is what we
divest power from what that is what we
divest power from what that is what we need is something else yes I do want to
need is something else yes I do want to
need is something else yes I do want to see East Asian people and telly
see East Asian people and telly
see East Asian people and telly who wouldn’t but I also know that
who wouldn’t but I also know that
who wouldn’t but I also know that something fundamental about the way in
something fundamental about the way in
something fundamental about the way in which we consume the bodies of people of
which we consume the bodies of people of
which we consume the bodies of people of color and indigenous people needs to
color and indigenous people needs to
color and indigenous people needs to change last Christmas I went back to
change last Christmas I went back to
change last Christmas I went back to Australia to develop a script with the
Australia to develop a script with the
Australia to develop a script with the National playwriting organization there
National playwriting organization there
National playwriting organization there which was very cool and it was a total
which was very cool and it was a total
which was very cool and it was a total honor because I’m a baby playwright and
honor because I’m a baby playwright and
honor because I’m a baby playwright and it was really unexpected and I got to
it was really unexpected and I got to
it was really unexpected and I got to work with some really amazing people the
work with some really amazing people the
work with some really amazing people the script that I was working on was for two
script that I was working on was for two
script that I was working on was for two Asian Australian women and the director
Asian Australian women and the director
Asian Australian women and the director of the workshop some way during the
of the workshop some way during the
of the workshop some way during the process asked me to set my characters on
process asked me to set my characters on
process asked me to set my characters on a scale from Asian asst to Australian
a scale from Asian asst to Australian
a scale from Asian asst to Australian this like is she downtown Beijing where
this like is she downtown Beijing where
this like is she downtown Beijing where is she Crocodile Dundee
the question through me at the time and
the question through me at the time and it still kind of does because what was
it still kind of does because what was
it still kind of does because what was happening to my characters is exactly
happening to my characters is exactly
happening to my characters is exactly what happens to a lot of first gen
what happens to a lot of first gen
what happens to a lot of first gen migrants around the world why people
migrants around the world why people
migrants around the world why people want to know how Asian really are you
want to know how Asian really are you
want to know how Asian really are you and it only encourages us to see
and it only encourages us to see
and it only encourages us to see ourselves as a spot on a spectrum or
ourselves as a spot on a spectrum or
ourselves as a spot on a spectrum or worse as a rung on a ladder towards
worse as a rung on a ladder towards
worse as a rung on a ladder towards whiteness in the context of the workshop
whiteness in the context of the workshop
whiteness in the context of the workshop even I could see that the question was
even I could see that the question was
even I could see that the question was justified within the discipline of
justified within the discipline of
justified within the discipline of Western dramaturgy which is why what we
Western dramaturgy which is why what we
Western dramaturgy which is why what we need to do is to question the terms of
need to do is to question the terms of
need to do is to question the terms of engagement question the tools that we
engagement question the tools that we
engagement question the tools that we are given for our self expression do
are given for our self expression do
are given for our self expression do they fit do they confine us do they
they fit do they confine us do they
they fit do they confine us do they silence us
silence us
silence us what I’ve learned in my tiny tiny career
what I’ve learned in my tiny tiny career
what I’ve learned in my tiny tiny career as a theatre maker is that anything less
as a theatre maker is that anything less
as a theatre maker is that anything less than citizen control anything less than
than citizen control anything less than
than citizen control anything less than delegated power and certainly anything
delegated power and certainly anything
delegated power and certainly anything less than a partnership has the
less than a partnership has the
less than a partnership has the potential to inculcate and exploit
potential to inculcate and exploit
potential to inculcate and exploit indigenous people and people of color
indigenous people and people of color
indigenous people and people of color into white colonial norms better
into white colonial norms better
into white colonial norms better somebody who has invested in and has
somebody who has invested in and has
somebody who has invested in and has worked at their whiteness for so long
worked at their whiteness for so long
worked at their whiteness for so long how do I know that once I divest power
how do I know that once I divest power
how do I know that once I divest power from the whiteness that lives inside of
from the whiteness that lives inside of
from the whiteness that lives inside of me that there will be anything left for
me that there will be anything left for
me that there will be anything left for anyone to erase what I have for you now
anyone to erase what I have for you now
anyone to erase what I have for you now a three sort of things that might help
a three sort of things that might help
a three sort of things that might help us stumble towards an answer they’re
us stumble towards an answer they’re
us stumble towards an answer they’re also the test principles of a new
also the test principles of a new
also the test principles of a new performance production platform that
performance production platform that
performance production platform that I’ve set up called the joy offensive
I’ve set up called the joy offensive
I’ve set up called the joy offensive inspired by Tanya Kenya’s these three
inspired by Tanya Kenya’s these three
inspired by Tanya Kenya’s these three things are hopefully some self
things are hopefully some self
things are hopefully some self nourishing ways in which we can
nourishing ways in which we can
nourishing ways in which we can acknowledge the whiteness of our
acknowledge the whiteness of our
acknowledge the whiteness of our cultural imaginations whilst also
cultural imaginations whilst also
cultural imaginations whilst also offsetting its power the first of these
offsetting its power the first of these
offsetting its power the first of these is investing in and creating new spaces
is investing in and creating new spaces
is investing in and creating new spaces physical temporal planned or enacted by
physical temporal planned or enacted by
physical temporal planned or enacted by chance I want to encourage you to keep
chance I want to encourage you to keep
chance I want to encourage you to keep on creating new spaces in which you are
on creating new spaces in which you are
on creating new spaces in which you are not the other I started the joy
not the other I started the joy
not the other I started the joy offensive as a kind of active choice to
offensive as a kind of active choice to
offensive as a kind of active choice to not be a token yellow and somebody
not be a token yellow and somebody
not be a token yellow and somebody else’s coloring book I wanted to create
else’s coloring book I wanted to create
else’s coloring book I wanted to create a space in which hybridity and
a space in which hybridity and
a space in which hybridity and intercultural exploration were the norm
intercultural exploration were the norm
intercultural exploration were the norm and not the end
and not the end
and not the end so the first of our event that I’m
so the first of our event that I’m
so the first of our event that I’m producing brings together 16 short works
producing brings together 16 short works
producing brings together 16 short works by makers from Australia New Zealand and
by makers from Australia New Zealand and
by makers from Australia New Zealand and the Pacific Islands and in the process
the Pacific Islands and in the process
the Pacific Islands and in the process what we want to do is to value that
what we want to do is to value that
what we want to do is to value that space of togetherness of intercultural
space of togetherness of intercultural
space of togetherness of intercultural in elegance as much as we would a
in elegance as much as we would a
in elegance as much as we would a well-regarded space in the mainstream so
well-regarded space in the mainstream so
well-regarded space in the mainstream so more generally speaking investing in new
more generally speaking investing in new
more generally speaking investing in new spaces means legitimizing your front
spaces means legitimizing your front
spaces means legitimizing your front rooms your back gardens your whatsapp
rooms your back gardens your whatsapp
rooms your back gardens your whatsapp conversations chance encounters on
conversations chance encounters on
conversations chance encounters on stairwells as much as you would say a
stairwells as much as you would say a
stairwells as much as you would say a university building the Sydney Opera
university building the Sydney Opera
university building the Sydney Opera House or the House of Commons new spaces
House or the House of Commons new spaces
House or the House of Commons new spaces can be Amorphis they can be spontaneous
can be Amorphis they can be spontaneous
can be Amorphis they can be spontaneous they can be undefined if there’s a space
they can be undefined if there’s a space
they can be undefined if there’s a space in which you feel like a human like
in which you feel like a human like
in which you feel like a human like you’re more than how you are perceived
you’re more than how you are perceived
you’re more than how you are perceived then spend time in that space and see
then spend time in that space and see
then spend time in that space and see what happens the second thing is placing
what happens the second thing is placing
what happens the second thing is placing power in the process so this sort of
power in the process so this sort of
power in the process so this sort of goes against what we know about arts and
goes against what we know about arts and
goes against what we know about arts and enterprise right what we’re told is to
enterprise right what we’re told is to
enterprise right what we’re told is to maximize our reach to maximize our
maximize our reach to maximize our
maximize our reach to maximize our influence to treat our peers as workers
influence to treat our peers as workers
influence to treat our peers as workers and to treat our audiences as customers
and to treat our audiences as customers
and to treat our audiences as customers to be satisfied were still as ignorant
to be satisfied were still as ignorant
to be satisfied were still as ignorant subjects looking to be educated in the
subjects looking to be educated in the
subjects looking to be educated in the performing arts what ends up happening
performing arts what ends up happening
performing arts what ends up happening is that we commodify artists bodies in
is that we commodify artists bodies in
is that we commodify artists bodies in order to play into a system that doesn’t
order to play into a system that doesn’t
order to play into a system that doesn’t support us back if we place power and
support us back if we place power and
support us back if we place power and value in the journey of creating a piece
value in the journey of creating a piece
value in the journey of creating a piece of theatre however it works against this
of theatre however it works against this
of theatre however it works against this in some way by thinking of the artists
in some way by thinking of the artists
in some way by thinking of the artists themselves as the beneficiaries as the
themselves as the beneficiaries as the
themselves as the beneficiaries as the community members not as the workers not
community members not as the workers not
community members not as the workers not as the products then we value the very
as the products then we value the very
as the products then we value the very act of self-determination in creating a
act of self-determination in creating a
act of self-determination in creating a piece of work just as much as we would
piece of work just as much as we would
piece of work just as much as we would the performance by placing value and
the performance by placing value and
the performance by placing value and placing power in the process we
placing power in the process we
placing power in the process we celebrate the discoveries made rather
celebrate the discoveries made rather
celebrate the discoveries made rather than the targets that we achieve and the
than the targets that we achieve and the
than the targets that we achieve and the third thing is positive solidarity
third thing is positive solidarity
third thing is positive solidarity positive solidarity isn’t necessarily
positive solidarity isn’t necessarily
positive solidarity isn’t necessarily about unifying disparate groups
about unifying disparate groups
about unifying disparate groups it’s about showing up for other people
it’s about showing up for other people
it’s about showing up for other people because that’s what you think is just
because that’s what you think is just
because that’s what you think is just and right a big impetus behind setting
and right a big impetus behind setting
and right a big impetus behind setting up these mixed bill nights for Australia
up these mixed bill nights for Australia
up these mixed bill nights for Australia New Zealand and Pacific island makers I
New Zealand and Pacific island makers I
New Zealand and Pacific island makers I was so that we can work together into
was so that we can work together into
was so that we can work together into the UK in ways that were new and
the UK in ways that were new and
the UK in ways that were new and unexpected these regions are quite far
unexpected these regions are quite far
unexpected these regions are quite far off and they have some intersecting
off and they have some intersecting
off and they have some intersecting colonial history via Captain James Cook
colonial history via Captain James Cook
colonial history via Captain James Cook but that’s really about it it’s not
but that’s really about it it’s not
but that’s really about it it’s not about what we have in common it’s about
about what we have in common it’s about
about what we have in common it’s about looking each other in the eye and saying
looking each other in the eye and saying
looking each other in the eye and saying we need to do something different and we
we need to do something different and we
we need to do something different and we need to do it together now none of these
need to do it together now none of these
need to do it together now none of these principles work a way to strip at
principles work a way to strip at
principles work a way to strip at whiteness most of the plays that we put
whiteness most of the plays that we put
whiteness most of the plays that we put on a Western in their construction
on a Western in their construction
on a Western in their construction that’s fine
that’s fine
that’s fine we still use British currency to operate
we still use British currency to operate
we still use British currency to operate and ninety percent of the time we still
and ninety percent of the time we still
and ninety percent of the time we still speak English but what the principles do
speak English but what the principles do
speak English but what the principles do is to create a space for us in which we
is to create a space for us in which we
is to create a space for us in which we can exist in our own new environment
can exist in our own new environment
can exist in our own new environment with the freedom to hold any part of the
with the freedom to hold any part of the
with the freedom to hold any part of the process in contempt with the freedom to
process in contempt with the freedom to
process in contempt with the freedom to work towards our own self determined art
work towards our own self determined art
work towards our own self determined art practice whatever that might look like
practice whatever that might look like
practice whatever that might look like so how do we go about decolonizing
so how do we go about decolonizing
so how do we go about decolonizing ourselves and our practice without
ourselves and our practice without
ourselves and our practice without erasing ourselves entirely I don’t very
erasing ourselves entirely I don’t very
erasing ourselves entirely I don’t very well know but I feel that the answer
well know but I feel that the answer
well know but I feel that the answer lies somewhere in questioning the
lies somewhere in questioning the
lies somewhere in questioning the structures that teach us what to value
structures that teach us what to value
structures that teach us what to value by learning for ourselves where these
by learning for ourselves where these
by learning for ourselves where these structures came from and learning to
structures came from and learning to
structures came from and learning to divest power from them when they stop
divest power from them when they stop
divest power from them when they stop working for you I also think it lies in
working for you I also think it lies in
working for you I also think it lies in learning to value yourself valuing your
learning to value yourself valuing your
learning to value yourself valuing your voice and your actions and learning to
voice and your actions and learning to
voice and your actions and learning to value each other when you do the same
value each other when you do the same
value each other when you do the same thanks very much
thanks very much
thanks very much [Applause]
”
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