Our History
ActNow Theatre was founded in 2007 by Edwin Kemp Attrill with the desire to explore injustice through theatre. The original ActNow ensemble took a guerrilla approach to its unscheduled appearances and the agitprop content of its work, to present highly visual performances in public spaces.
Since then, ActNow has broadened its vision to create works for the stage; collaborating with organisations both within and outside of the arts to present plays by established and emerging writers and devise the interactive, issue-based productions which have become the hallmark of its output.
In addition to producing interactive theatre, ActNow offers funded opportunities for the creative and professional development of First Nations people, People of Colour and the LGBTQIA+ community, enabling artists to tell their own stories in their own way. This commitment to decolonising the arts is embedded in ActNow’s mission statement and under the leadership of CEO and Artistic Director Yasmin Gurreeboo, there has been a renewed focus on community through an artist-led approach to its programs.
ActNow’s contribution to the South Australian arts landscape has been recognised by a number of awards. Most recently, ActNow was awarded the PAC Australia Impact Award (2022) for excellence in performing arts, leadership, new thinking and best practice and in 2020, ActNow won the Governor’s Multicultural Arts and Culture Award for promoting multiculturalism and championing cultural diversity in our community.
A brief timeline of our projects to date
2023
The inaugural Cultural Leaders program is launched with 10 artists from our communities participating in year-long leadership training with industry specialists.
We debut Here and There at the DreamBig Children’s Festival. Actors are live-streamed in from India, Malaysia and Singapore to connect with their Kaurna-based counterparts.
Our Queer Theatre Program returns and is now open to all LGBTQIA+ people ages 18 and over.
Virtual Intimacy, our collaboration with Very Theatre in Taiwan, goes to Sao Paolo for the Mix Brazil Festival.
We redevelop our anti-racism program for workplaces and it is renamed Tackling Racism.
2022
Yasmin Gurreeboo takes over as sole CEO and Artistic Director of ActNow Theatre.
We consult extensively with our communities which results in us introducing a series of intersectional workshops and community nights that bring all our communities together.
The Next Stage podcast is released featuring interviews with six queer artists.
Drag Troupe is established to support emerging drag artists with ongoing professional development.
We move into our new office on Gouger Street.
2021
ActNow Theatre steps into a new chapter with Co-CEOs, Artistic Director Yasmin Gurreeboo and Executive Director Rhen Soggee.
جُمْعَة Jumu'ah (Friday Prayers) debuts at DreamBig Festival. The artists attached to this project become the first attendees of our Muslim Artist Sessions.
Our First Nations Writers Residency sees artists Alexis West, Kyron Weetra and Kiara Milera selected for the program.
The first edition of the MakeSpace Residencies are announced.
Theatre of the Global Majority's This Is My True Story! is performed at the Unearthed Festival in Whyalla,
2020
ActNow Theatre works closely with State Theatre Company of SA to commission 100 diverse South Australian artists to write, perform and record their stories for Decameron 2.0.
In collaboration with Taiwan's Very Theatre, ActNow debuts Virtual Intimacy, a post-digital work of participatory theatre.
ActNow Theatres wins big at the Governor's Multicultural Awards, bringing home an Arts and Culture Award!
Theatre of the Global Majority develops and performs a new piece, This Is My True Story!, at the SANAA Festival.
2019
Like Me, Like You is developed and delivered in partnership with Reconciliation SA, debuts at the DreamBig Festival. An anti-racism program, it is ActNow’s first work for primary school students.
2018
ActNow launches Theatre of the Global Majority, a workshop series for people from culturally diverse backgrounds.
We release Artist Voices, a video project that supports a range of culturally diverse poetry artists to share their stories in their own voices.
We move into our new home on Hindley Street, and launch MakeSpace.
Generation of Change is a finalist for Australian Human Rights Commission Human Rights Award for the second year running.
2017
ActNow celebrates its 10th year!
ActNow develops and performs the highly successful Zero Feet Away, delivered in partnership with Gay Men’s Health and the Australia Council for the Arts.
ActNow’s partnership with Reconciliation SA through Generation of Change continues for its fourth year.
ActNow partners with the Safe Schools Coalition to deliver Speak Out to a number of schools both locally and regionally.
Queer Youth Theatre Workshops begin.
Generation of Change is a finalist for the Australian Human Rights Commission Human Rights Award.
2016
ActNow partners with Tandanya and Flinders University to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) young people’s access to professional pathways in the arts industry. This program is called the Arts Pathway Program.
ActNow pilots the Game Makers workshops.
2015
Responding to Racism wins a Governor’s Multicultural Award. Our partnership with Reconciliation SA continues.
Edwin Kemp Attrill is awarded the Geoff Crowhurst Memorial Ruby Award.
ActNow partners with the Community Engagement Unit of Women’s and Children’s Health Network.
2014
ActNow partners with Gay Men’s Health and Feast Festival to provide a series of Queer Youth Theatre workshops in development for a new piece exploring safe sex and healthy relationships.
ActNow partners with Legal Services Commission and Youth Education Centre to conduct a series of workshops with young people at risk of entering the youth justice system for a new piece exploring young people and the criminal justice system.
ActNow partners with Reconciliation SA to create Responding to Racism, an interactive performance addressing racism.
ActNow partners with ExpressWay Arts for How to Survive A Zombie Apocalypse (In Christies Beach).
We hold a residency at Largs Bay Primary School, through Carclew’s Artist In Schools Program, and residency at Hallett Cove High School in partnership with Marion City Council.
2013
ActNow takes a new strategic direction to partner with non-government organisations, schools, and community groups. We develop The Clock in partnership with RiAus and tour to regional areas.
ActNow develops Forum for Consent for University of Adelaide Student Union and presents in the International White Ribbon Day Conference in Sydney.
ActNow develops Speak Out and tours to regional areas in partnership with Feast Festival.
2012
ActNow is commissioned to develop a performance about young people’s perception of success for the Don Dustan Foundation.
ActNow completes the 68th performance of Expect Respect!.
2011
ActNow supports new work Alice and Peter Grow Up.
We continue to perform Expect Respect!.
2010
ActNow presents Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People, which The Sunday Mail later describes as the 2010 Best Independent Theatre production.
We also begin our first non-theatre partnership with Legal Commission of South Australia to develop Expect Respect!, an interactive performance about the legal implications of rape and sexual assault.
ActNow completes its final theatre work for RightAct.
2009
ActNow presents its first staged work, The Revolution Starts, written by two young emerging playwrights. We also begin a queer adaptation of A Midsummers Night’s Dream.
2008
ActNow begins presenting annual theatre for RightAct, a social change conference.
2007
ActNow Theatre forms as a street theatre ensemble working with young people and responding to political issues.