Black Theatre

The National Black Theatre (NBT) was established in Redfern in 1972 at a time of protest, pride and a movement for change for Aboriginal Australians. Founded by a group of activists, writers and performers, including Bob Maza, Gary Foley and Justine Saunders, it became a groundbreaking space for Aboriginal voices to tell their own stories. Local Yuin man Bruce “Lapa” Stewart was amongst the many actors who performed with company.

The theatre’s first production, Basically Black, used sharp wit and political humour to expose racism and challenge the mainstream image of Aboriginal people. As Gary Foley reflected, “We wanted to take control of how we were represented. The Black Theatre gave us that power.”

From its modest base in Cope Street, NBT was more than a stage, it was a training ground, a meeting place and a movement. The company offered workshops in acting, dance and writing, creating opportunities for young Indigenous artists to develop their skills and cultural confidence. Actress Lydia Miller recalled, “It was a home for our stories, a place where we could be unapologetically ourselves.”

Though the theatre closed in 1977, its legacy lives on in the success of later institutions like Bangarra Dance Theatre and the Aboriginal National Theatre Trust. As historian Liza-Mare Syron notes, “The National Black Theatre lit a fire that still burns. It changed the way this country sees Aboriginal performance and the way we see ourselves.”

The spirit of NBT endures as a symbol of creativity, pride and resistance through the generations of Aboriginal performers who have followed in the footsteps of these trailblazers.