For over 65 years, NIDA has been dedicated to nurturing the next generation of storytellers and emerging artists. NIDA’s recent Festival of Emerging Artists, sponsored by Prime Video, offered audiences a glimpse into the future of Australian theatre, as the next generation of Master of Fine Arts, Directing students shared the culmination of the NIDA training. Over four days and across three venues, seven unique and exceptional productions were presented to audiences of peers, family, mentors and leading industry figures. The shows for the 2025 Festival of Emerging Artists were:
The Effect, directed by Lou Quill. Set in a clinical drug trial under relentless observation, two subjects struggle to discern whether their growing connection is genuine or just a chemical side effect. Photos by Julia Firak. The works are excerpts from Lucy Prebble’s play The Effect.
À La Carte, directed by Lucy Rossen. A provocative play told in three acts where consumption, service and class collide to tell a story that’s as familiar as it is absurd. Photos by Julia Firak. Act I: Service Overture written by Lucy Rossen & À La Carte Co. Act II: Fatty Liver written by Morgan Owen. Act III: My Wedding Cheesemonger written by Sophia Benjami.
Again, I See You, directed and written by Clement Rukundo. A poetic journey of healing, this play follows two Rwandan genocide survivors as they confront displacement, seek asylum and learn important truths about who they are. Photos by Teniola Komolafe.
Medusa Uncut, directed by Harrison Simmons and written by Krishna Patel. Raunchy, camp, and fiercely funny, Medusa’s myth gets a makeover when Athena and Pegasus clash over its retelling, revealing the perils of blind faith and religion. Photos by Teniola Komolafe.
Duplexity, directed by Nic Puni. In this debut play written by Annidette Puni, old friends turned frenemies, Fidela (Fidi) and Dolion (Dolly) trade secrets and scandals over brunch, igniting a chaotic, social media-shaking viral storm. Photos by Phil Erbacher.
The Superquick Resurrection of Stalwart the Bushranger, directed by Nelson Blake and based on the unperformed play by Charles Harpur. A band of convicts race to revive the legend of Stalwart the Bushranger, a hedonistic tale that began with Operation Dreadnought. Photos by Phil Erbacher.
Swine River directed by Ruby Lorraine and written by David Milroy. This powerful drama takes place in the Pilbara of Western Australia, exposing the devastating impact of iron ore mining on Aboriginal land, culture and community, and the ongoing fight of the Yindjibarndi people to protect their country. Photos by Phil Erbacher.
The Festival of Emerging Artists is a celebration of our Directing students’ unique artistic voices and the culmination of their rigorous training.
Gallery
Image 1: Production image from The Effect, directed by Lou Quill for NIDA’s Festival of Emerging Artists. Excerpts from Lucy Prebble’s play The Effect. Photo by Julia Firak.
Image 2: Production image from À La Carte directed by Lucy Rossen for NIDA’s Festival of Emerging Artists. Fatty Liver written by Morgan Owen. Photo by Julia Firak.
Image 3: Production image from Again I See You, directed and written by Clement Rukundo for NIDA’s Festival of Emerging Artists. Photo by Teniola Komolafe.
Image 4: Production image from Medusa Uncut, directed by Harrison Simmons and written by Krishna Patel for NIDA’s Festival of Emerging Artists. Photo by Teniola Komolafe.
Image 5: Production image from Duplexity directed by Nic Puni for NIDA’s Festival of Emerging Artists and written by Annidette Puni. Photo by Phil Erbacher.
Image 6: Production image from The Superquick Resurrection of Stalwart the Bushranger, directed by Nelson Blake for NIDA’s Festival of Emerging Artists. Written by Charles Harpur. Photo by Phil Erbacher.
Image 7: Production image from Swine River directed by Ruby Lorraine for NIDA’s Festival of Emerging Artists. Written by David Milroy. Photo by Phil Erbacher.
Header Image: Production image from À La Carte directed by Lucy Rossen for NIDA’s Festival of Emerging Artists. My Wedding Cheesemonger written by Sophia Benjamin. Photo by Julia Firak.