Cirrus@Austlit

'A complicated friendship. A journey they didn’t intend to happen.

'Asheeka and Rosa are two funny, sharp, adventurous young women who refuse to be held back any longer.

'When they end up on a Thelma and Louise-esque road trip in Western Sydney, a series of escalating events land Rosa in juvenile jail living her life through books and wondering about her best mate, who has disappeared.'

Source: National Theatre of Parramatta.

'Created by powerhouse record label managers, Chris and Darren, this is the girl-band to end all girl-bands. They have moulded, twisted, and worked these girls to become the girls everyone wants. The Sensation Girls.

'Problem is, The Sensation Girls don’t know who they are anymore.

'When unofficial leader DeeDee unexpectedly quits, things begin to unravel. The girls are getting older and bolder and they know what they want, what they really, really want.

'Get ready for dancing, Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes inspired rap, low-rise jeans, and a hell of a lot of mess.'

Source: National Theatre of Parramatta.

'A tale of invisibility, rage and the uplifting power of survival.

'Part monologue, part eulogy, and packing more than a punch, Blanco honours his dying creative ambitions with documentarian flair.

'An Asian character study with weights and floor work, movement and audience interaction, this fusion of verbatim and physical theatre explores the fractured mind of one man.

'Blanco has decided to end the ‘short life cycle’ of his acting career due to the culminating effect of hidden and casual racism on his psyche.

'How do we thrive in life when faced with so many dead ends in our artistic endeavours? Blanco proves that sometimes the truth can be more entertaining, but it’s up to you if you want to laugh.'

Source: National Theatre of Parramatta.

'Message to my future self.

'A poignant perspective on “how to defeat the beast within”.

'This step-by-step guide mashes up martial arts, storytelling and digital animations, with a contemporary perspective of growing up Asian in an 80’s Australia.

'Playwright Hung-Yen Yang (Yen) examines the tension between good and evil that exists within us all via deprecating comedy, some slapstick humour interspersed with practical tips such as why it’s usually not a good idea to turn your back on an enemy.

'An exploration of how everyday racism over the decades shapes decisions both good and bad.'

Source: National Theatre of Parramatta.

'Fast approaching 31, Fatima is feeling the pressure from her bakery owning family to get married and have children. Her boyfriend, Karim, wants their relationship to remain secret. His high-flying, lawyer parents definitely wouldn’t approve of the match. In an effort to prove to Karim and his family she is worthy of his love, Fatima comes up with a plan to win Queen Lebanon Australia. Moonia, the pageant organiser, accepts Fatima because this year she wants a ‘diverse group of girls’ and Fatima is unlike anything the competition has seen before.

'With the help of her 74 year-old best friend Gada and her coffee cup readings, Fatima goes through a transformation that not even she expected.'

Source: National Theatre of Parramatta.

'Set over two decades, CAPTAIN explores the aftermath of one tragic moment.  What happens when an aspiring high school captain frames the school bullies for murder in order to stamp out bullying forever? The consequences are direr than could have been predicated.'

Source: National Theatre of Parramatta.

'When High School frenemies Adaeze, Marčela and Lakshmana are forced to “volunteer” at Lost in Books in Fairfield, they have no idea that their punishment is about to transport them into a magical world of myths and legends from their respective cultures. Discover with them the magic held in myths from Croatia, India and Nigeria.'

Source: National Theatre of Parramatta.

'There’s something charismatic and enigmatic about Steven. From his mother, to his wife, father and friend, they all desperately seek his approval, want his company, want to the one in his life, yet he remains elusive.

'This delightful music comedy sees four characters sharing intimate details about their life with Steven, what they want to tell him. A picture of Steven emerges from their longings to be with him. But Steven has his own secrets …'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Val, a Filipina teenage, is desperate to escape the purgatory period between high school and university so she can finally be seen as an adult. She makes a break from her religious, overbearing mother and childhood best friend, then sets out to the city in search of the queer community she lacks back home in Fairfield. When she joins a Mardi Gras parade group and meets Prince, an enigmatic, older artist, Val is sure she has finally found her utopia – even if it means leaving her best friend, Thi, behind. But where do you turn when it turns out no place fits?

'Let Me Know When You Get Home is a new, coming-of-age Australian play, deconstructing the myth of needing to “escape” Western Sydney. It draws from personal experience with suburban isolation and Filipino diasporic identity to create a work which explores the inner lives of isolated people and the discomfort that exists when no place fits. Let Me Know When You Get Home is a personal narrative on birth and chosen families, friendships and first loves, and ultimately, the universal desire to make a home in other people.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'A witty observation on life, empathy, regret and reconciliation that takes us on a journey from Fairfield RSL to the Moulin Rouge.

'Pippa comes from a showbiz family. Her father was a cabaret star, and her mother, Barbara, was a showgirl. But Pippa, like so many of us, loses sight of the person that is her Mum. This show goes to redress the balance, with an apology to her Mum and everyone’s Mum, who often becomes invisible once children arrive.

'If you’re a Mum or daughter, or somebody’s child, this work will resonate.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Unapologetic, piercing and deliciously funny-until-it’s-not, Lady Tabouli is James Elazzi‘s unflinching clash of cultures and a searing look at how expectations can eat away at us until we decide to change the rules.

'It’s the day of his nephew’s baptism and Danny is godfather. Living back home with his religious Lebanese mother, he’s thrown into the maelstrom of preparations and high emotions: God forbid this christening comes second to the Boustanis’! The family can’t afford to lose face, especially with Danny recently and mysteriously calling off his engagement. But secrets will out, and amidst the sugared almonds and balloon deliveries, Danny discovers the true colours of those to whom he’s closest. Where do you turn when the people you love refuse to accept the truth?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Whitening cream is the bestseller for cosmetic firm Clearday. When a leaked racist video goes viral, the millennial management team scramble to deal with the fallout. Casual blackmail, allegations of corruption and a clash of philosophies fuel this dark comedy about toxic ideas and the complexity of Pan-Asian relations.'

Source: National Playwrighting Festival program.

'When the dice is always loaded against you how do you move forward?

'Join us for an extraordinary journey to a world of imagination where origami boats take you on an ocean voyage, giant fish host musical interludes, and parades pass you by. This is the story of a young girl living inside her bedroom and how she conquers her fears and anxieties, finally embracing hope and taking control of the world that has always been around her.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.