About us
Ilbijerri is a Woiwurrung word meaning Coming Together for Ceremony.
Ilbijerri is one of Australia’s leading theatre companies creating innovative contemporary works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists that challenges and connects with our audiences. Ilbijerri believes in the power of Indigenous voices. Our creative processes support the empowerment of Indigenous artists and communities to tell our stories, from our perspective. Ilbijerri productions have toured nationally and internationally being acclaimed by critics and resonating with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous audiences.
Ilbijerri is the longest running Indigenous Theatre company in Australia and the only one in Victoria. In 1990 a group of Melbourne Indigenous artists and community members came together to form a professional theatre company for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of Victoria. Since then we have been initiating and developing performances in collaboration with our community and artists.
Our plays explore a range of complex and controversial issues from a uniquely Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective. Our plays possess the power to reach out and remind audiences of every person's need for family, history and heritage.
MISSION
Ilbijerri creates and presents theatre by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists that challenges and connects with audiences and reaffirms our culture.
VISION
To inspire and engage Indigenous artists to create powerful theatre that achieves a national profile and broad support for Ilbijerri.
VALUES
Ilbijerri supports and values:
• The power of indigenous voices
• Indigenous protocols and ways of working
• Self determination
• Respect - for our people, Elders, culture and country
• Indigenous diversity - in people, their stories, culture and experience
TIMELINE OF OUR HISTORY
1990 Incorporated as Victorian Co-operative
1991 Up the Road
1992 Stolen commissioned
1997 Stolen
1998 Stolen
Up the Road (Playbox/Company B)
1999 Stolen
2000 Stolen
2001 Stolen
Appt first part time Artistic Director – Glenn Shea
Appt first Indigenous General Manager – Richard Frankland
Inaugural Victorian Indigenous Playwrights’ Conference
Inaugural Victorian Indigenous Performing Arts Awards
2002 Stolen
Appt first full time General Manager – Kim Kruger
Appt part time Artistic Director – Wesley Enoch
2nd Victorian Indigenous Playwrights’ Conference
2nd Victorian Indigenous Performing Arts Awards
2003 Stolen
Shrunken Iris
Oh My God I’m Black!
3rd Victorian Indigenous Playwrights’ Conference
3rd Victorian Indigenous Performing Arts Awards
2004 NAIDOC Players
Oh My God I’m Black! (Adelaide Cabaret Festival)
New Indigenous Voices – New York readings
4th Victorian Indigenous Playwrights’ Conference
4th Victorian Indigenous Performing Arts Awards
2005 Appt first full time Artistic Director – Kylie Belling
Rainbow’s End
Stolen
Natives Getting Restless Funny! – Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Natives Getting Restless Funny! – The Dreaming Festival
Headhunter – Premier Melbourne season
New Indigenous Voices – New York readings
5th Victorian Indigenous Performing Arts Awards
2006 The Dirty Mile
Natives Getting Restless Funny! – Adelaide Fringe
Natives Strikin’ Blak – Melb International Comedy Festival
Appt General Manager – John Harvey
Natives Strikin’ Blak – Dreaming Festival
Headhunter
Chopped Liver – Premier Victorian Tour
6th Victorian Indigenous Performing Arts Awards
2007 7 Deadly Gins (Auspice)
Itchy Clacker – Melb International Comedy Festival
Itchy Clacker – The Dreaming Festival
Chopped Liver – SA/Victorian Tour
7th Victorian Indigenous Performing Arts Awards
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