“I heard a story once of a woman who turned into an Emu and ran into the sun…”

Emu in the Sun is a dance, a song, a story that is written in the sky. Etta is spiraling. Gripped by melancholy. She is glued to her bed, she hasn’t moved for days. Her bleakness is interrupted when the universe comes knocking. All the things that feel too big to face come rushing into Etta's small bedroom. 

A story about overcoming the darkness and reminding us of what we are really made of.

Content note: Depression and suicidal ideation

Meet the writer
Phoebe Grainer

Phoebe Grainer is a Kuku Djungan, Muluridji, Wakaman, Tagalaka, Kunjen, Warrgamay and Yindinji woman from Far North Queensland. Phoebe is a graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting).

As an actor, Phoebe’s performance credentials include: Black Cockatoo (Ensemble Theatre), Tiddas (La Boite Theatre), Saltbush (Insite Arts), Two Hearts (Kings Cross Theatre), Serpent’s Teeth (Kings Cross Theatre), Doing (Kings Cross Theatre) and Rainbow’s End (Darlinghurst Theatre).

This year, Phoebe is in the lead cast for SBS’ new TV Series While the Men are Away. Phoebe is a Creative Producer at Sweatshop Literacy Movement. Her writing credits include as co-editor and sub-editor for Racism: Stories on Fear, Hate & Bigotry and Blacklight: Ten Years of First Nations Storytelling. Her writing has also appeared in The Lifted Brow, SBS Voices, Red Room Poetry and Sweatshop Women: Volume One and Volume Two and Povo: Stories on Class.

As a playwright, Phoebe was in the Darlinghurst Theatre’s 2020 and 2022 Next In Line program and Griffin Theatre Studio in 2021. She has also worked as a playwright in ILBIJERRI Theatre Company’s BlackWrights program in 2021 and is a playwright in their current 2023 BlackWrights program. Phoebe is a 2022 finalist for the Queensland Theatre’s Queensland Premier’s Drama Award with her play, Sugar Cane.

This year, Phoebe won the Australia Council for the Arts prestigious Dreaming Award.