Asked what the company has meant to her personally across the course of her career, James’ answer is simple: everything.
“I was just reflecting with Rachael yesterday how when we started out, you could literally count the number of playwrights and Aboriginal directors on one hand – and now we’ve got this plethora of established artists who are making really fantastic work, as well as a wave of young emerging artists. It’s just incredible,” she says.
Big Name, No Blankets by Ilbijerri Theatre Company celebrates the story of the Warumpi Band.Credit: Justin McManus
“It’s a company that’s in fantastic shape, and that’s a real blessing because that doesn’t always happen,” James adds, pointing to the work of Maza, executive director and co-CEO Ping Flynn and the broader community. “Many hands have touched this company and brought it into being. And we will always honour and pay respects and give thanks to those people who did the really hard yards.”
In addition to prioritising the creation of a dedicated space, James is keen to build on the existing strong foundation by seeking out more stories, and facilitating more works of scale. Her first plan of action, however, will be to listen to the people around her. “I’m going to engage in a round of really deep listening and talking, engaging with our elders-in-residence N’arweet Dr Carolyn Briggs and Uncle Larry Walsh.”
The role of the arts is more profound than distraction. “The more that we are able to come together as people – and theatre is a fantastic avenue for that – it brings us together as Blak people in our own safe space,” James reflects. “And then to invite people to come and sit with us and listen to our stories and celebrate and engage with truth telling, it’s just really important, I think now more than ever.
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“We’re one of only three Aboriginal First Nations theatre companies in Australia, And I think there actually needs to be a lot more, to be honest – I actually want more competition,” she adds.
“I think that if we can also engage young people, young white men in particular, who seem to be taking up this avenue of division and hate with great relish, I think that if we can sit with people and engage them with our stories and our experience as human beings, I think that we can hopefully make this a better world.”
