We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Elders, Ancestors and leaders of the Kulin Nations on whose unceded lands ILBIJERRI Theatre Company is based.
We extend this respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, recognising their resilience and ongoing connection to land, water and culture, despite ongoing colonial interruption and genocide.
Always was, always will be, sacred Indigenous land.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples should be advised that this website may contain images of deceased persons.
Blackstage
BlackStage is a development program offering the opportunity for mentoring in all aspects of theatre production such as set and costume design, lighting, sound, production management, touring and theatre direction.
BlackStage matches emerging First Nations theatre practitioners with an interest in a creative role and/or technical theatre with skilled mentors. Each participant is given a paid position to work on productions, and experiences the creative process firsthand in their chosen discipline.
For more information and to get involved in the future please sign up to our enews, on the bottom of the page, where callouts will be shared.
Current blackstage participants
EMMA SALMON
Emma Salmon (she/her) is a Nyikina artist, student and aspiring set designer.
Born and based on Wurundjeri Woiwurrung land, she was the scenic and promotional artist for The Whisper (Brodie Murray, fortyfivedownstairs 2024), commissioned artist for 37 (Nathan Maynard, Melbourne Theatre Company 2024) and associate set designer on Scar Trees (Declan Furber Gillick, ILBIJERRI 2024), and has written for YIRRAMBOI (Melbourne Theatre Company Deadly Creatives 2023) and Deadly Fringe (STAUNCH ASF by Amelia Jean O'Leary).
She is currently studying Drawing and Printmaking at VCA. Her practice spans string making, set, video, illustration and installation and explores First Nations memory and connections in urban, cyber and dream spaces.
EMMA Holgate
Emma Holgate (she/her) is a proud Mamu woman (FNQ) who grew up on Ngarigo Country (Cooma, NSW) and now resides in Naarm. Currently working as a production technician, specialising in sound and vision, Emma also has a background in working with children as an education support worker in school and as coordinator of a First Nations cultural identity school program. Passionate about further developing her production knowledge and creative practice, Emma is now a participant in the BlackStage Program.
In 2023, Emma completed her Certificate III in Live Production and Technical Services through Arts Centre Melbourne’s technical production traineeship and has worked on a wide variety of performances. Emma is always looking for opportunities to engage in productions which involve First Nations education and storytelling, making theatre accessible and using her skillset to support new and upcoming theatre makers and performers.
For Emma, BlackStage is an opportunity to explore the creative development of shows before they get on stage, experiment with design and programming and work alongside fellow Blak creatives and performers with ILBIJERRI Theatre Company.
Stone Motherless COld
Stone Motherless Cold (she/they/re) is an Arrernte gem, currently based in Naarm. A crystalline being posing as human, with drag as their main medium, the queer artform centres their other art practices, combining them to create multi-disciplinary projects. These projects are used to explore Blak futurism, gender and sexuality, their experiences with colonialism and living away from Country.
They are part of MoCo (the Motherless Collective), a VIC NAIDOC LGBTQIA+ 2019 title winner and 1st-Runner Up Miss First Nations 2021. Stone has previously directed and wrote 'Alluvium' Yirramboi Festival 2023, curated ''A Rainbow of Tomorrows Melbourne Fringe Festival 2022, produced 'SMASH: the Drag Show' Midsumma 2022, directed, wrote and performed in 'The Fae' Yirramboi Festival 2021, performed in 'Drag of Kwatye' 2019 Melbourne Fringe Festival, 'Dis Rupt' Yirramboi 2019 and 'Lets Take Over presents: The Reveillon' at Northcote Town Hall 2019 to name a few...
Sky Maynard
Sky is proud Palawa woman strong in culture, born and raised in Lutruwita (Tasmania)
Sky is passionate about her culture and is deeply connected to her community. Recently moving into the film and television industry Sky has had attachments with ABC Stuff The British Stole, SBS Moonbird and Netflix The Survivors. Sky is broadening her knowledge of production in Theatre making.
Sky comes from a long lineage of storytellers, which ignited her passion for the performing arts. Eager to learn and expand her skill set, Her vast range of skills will inform and be the foundation of Sky’s interest in set design by incorporating her passion for creative design.
Thank you to Linda Herd for her generous support of BlackStage
