SONYA RANKINE

SONYA RANKINE

ABOUT

Awards

• NAIDOC SA Artist of the Year 2021
• Don Dunstan Foundation Emerging Artist Prize, OUR MOB Exhibition 2019

Exhibitions
• Tarnanthi 2024 – Jam Factory solo exhibition, ‘Spaces between’, Adelaide Railway Station.
• Defi-Nations (first language in verse), Poetry, Adelaide Festival Centre, Kaurna Country 2023
• ‘Thukeri’, solo exhibition at Children’s Art Space, Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre, Kaurna
Country, 19 August – 7 October 2023
• ‘Kicked Out’, Port Adelaide Artist Forum, Kaurna Country 2023
• Wild Dog Exhibition, Tandanya, Kaurna Country 2022 – Narungga songwoman, Narungga language
translation and lyricist for Narungga Wild Dog film – 2023 RUBY AWARD – Outstanding Community
Event or Project awarded to Artist Director Jacob Boehme
• Guildhouse Exhibition, Equity & Advisory Law Firm, Kaurna Country 2022
• SILVER SALA Festival 25th Anniversary Exhibition, Kaurna Country 2022
• SALA Exhibition Gallery Yampu, Kaurna Country 2022
• Our Mob Exhibition, Adelaide Festival Centre, Kaurna Country 2022
• Memory Bank, Guildhouse Exhibition, Adelaide Town Hall, Kaurna Country 2022
• Top to Toe Yorke Peninsula Exhibition, Burra Regional Art Gallery, Ngadjuri Country 2022
• Tarnanthi Exhibition, Art Gallery of SA, Kaurna Country 2021
• OUR MOB Exhibition, Adelaide Festival Centre, Kaurna Country 2021
• SALA Exhibition Gallery Yampu, Kaurna Country 2021
• Yorke Peninsula Art Fair, Narungga Country 2022
• Alaalpi Apinha Exhibition, Red Poles Gallery, Kaurna Country 2020
• Aboriginal Art Gallery Exhibition Cultural Revival, Kaurna Country 2019
• OUR MOB Exhibition, Adelaide Festival Centre, Kaurna Country 2019
• OUR MOB Exhibition, Adelaide Festival Centre, Kaurna Country 2018

Artist in Residence
• PURRUMPA First Nations Gathering, Australia Council for the Arts, Adelaide Convention Centre,
Kaurna Country 2022
• OUR STORIES, Adelaide City Library & Adelaide Festival Centre. Kaurna Country 2022
• Reconciliation SA, National Reconciliation Week Breakfast, Adelaide Convention Centre, Kaurna
Country 2021
• Aboriginal Artists in School Program, Carclew, Ngadjuri Country 2020 – Current
• Central Yorke School, Narungga Country 2019

Poetry Reading
• Inaugural Survival Day, Ngadjuri Country 2022
• FNAWN (First Nation Australian Writers Network) Conference Opening Night, Kaurna Country 2022
• T.R.A.I.L. (Tonight Regional Aboriginal & Islander Live) Spoken Word, Kaurna Country 2021
Mentoring/Facilitation
• Tarnanthi 2023, facilitated Panpanpalya Artist Panels with Injalka Arts artist, Kaurna Country 2023
• FLOW Festival Australia – supporting First Nation Producer Joanna Agius and facilitating First Nation
Deaf Artist panel, Wurundjeri Country, Preston 2023

Workshops
• Weaving Futures, Museum of Discovery – University of SA, Kaurna Country 2023
• Student Pathways & Careers Division – Workabout Centre staff, Kaurna Country 2023
• Jam Factory Seppeltsfield, Ngadjuri Country 2023
• Thukeri Exhibition, workshops with schools and families, Kaurna Country 2023
• First Nations & Pasifika Academic Artist, Vitalstatistix, Kaurna Country 2023
• SA Health Aboriginal Health Workers Network, Adelaide Festival Centre, Kaurna Country 2023
• Healing Camp, Nunkuwarrin Yunti, Pitchie Richie Park, Nukunu Country 2023
• SALT Festival, Port Lincoln, Barngala Country 2023
• Lot Fourteen , Kaurna Country 2023
• Gawler Environment Centre, Evanston Gardens Community Library, Kaurna Country 2023
• Art Gallery of South Australia, Kaurna Country 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
• Nature Festival, Kaurna Country 2022
• Quandong Festival, Nukunu Country 2022
• NAIDOC Health Families Day, Nukunu Country 2022
• Tika Turka/St John’s Youth Service, Kaurna Country 2022
• Gallery 1855, Kaurna Country 2022
• Warndu & Samorn Sanixay collaboration, Ngadjuri Country, 2022
• WOMADELAIDE Kid Zone, Kaurna Country 2022
• Clare NAIDOC, Ngadjuri Country 2021
• Goyder Open Days, Ngadjuri Country 2021
• Post Office Projects Gallery with Muma Jane, Kaurna Country 2021
• Flinders University RAP FORUM, Kaurna Country 2021
• Cultural Day – Crystal Brook Primary School, Ngadjuri Country 2021
• Ngadjuri Cultural Day – Booborowie Primary School, Ngadjuri Country 2021
• Inclusive Work Program – GOGO Events, Kaurna Country 2021
• Tjindu Foundation, Kaurna Country 2021
• Reconciliation Week – Australian Taxation Office, Kaurna Country 2021
• Barossa Bushgardens Reconciliation Day, Ngadjuri Country 2021, 2023
• NAIDOC at Clare, Ngadjuri Country 2021
• Brighton High School, Kaurna Country 2020
• Indigenous Round – Adelaide University Rugby Club, Kaurna Country 2020
• Reconciliation Week – Yunggorendi Flinders University, Kaurna Country 2020
• Gynburra Festival, Narungga Country 2020, 2023
• Semaphore Music Festival, Kaurna Country 2019
• Mii Pudnanthi Festival, Kaurna Country 2019
• Springfest – Flinders University, Kaurna Country 2019
• NAIDOC in the Mall, Kaurna Country 2019
• NRM NAIDOC Event, Ngadjuri Country 2019
• National Basketry Gathering, Kaurna Country 2019
• Warida Wholistic Wellness, Kaurna Country 2022
• First Nations Hub – Tandanya, Kaurna Country 2019
• Fringe Club – Adelaide Fringe, Kaurna Country 2019

What attracted you to apply for the Fellowship?

The opportunity to bring an idea to life. Learn the skills to develop a theatre production, the intricacies of what is involved and the layers of bringing everything together. The importance of being led by First Nation creatives and working alongside Elders and
community is incredibly important. I’ve been so inspired in on a very personal level as a Narungga person working alongside my cousin Jacob Boehme on Wild Dog and recently with Guuranda show for the Adelaide Festival.

What do you hope to achieve over the next 12 months?

To create at least a draft of my proposed production concept. Through the 12 months to meet key people in the
industry and gain skills from. I want to immerse myself in the process of development, and particularly the writing techniques. To
work closely with my Ngarrindjeri family and incorporate Ngarrindjeri language into this project. I hope to work with family and friends and bring all their skills and talents together.

What playwrights inspire you?

I’m inspired by all First Nations storytellers and the commitment to share our stories with our voices leading the narrative and presentation. embodiment of telling stories of culture and language in film and on stage. As a singer/songwriter I had the opportunity to create songs in Narungga language and has been an incredible experience. It’s been so rewarding and gave me the confidence to apply for this fellowship. The work of Ursula Yovich from when I first saw her first solo showing of Magpie Blues at the Dreaming Festival. The telling of her story through song which incorporated originals and cover songs that connected deeply to her life. The presentation was so beautifully delivered and resonated with me emotionally. The power of telling stories through song is what has guided by practice as a singer/songwriter. Ursula’s work inspires me to follow that path and create a theatre production that is grounded in my story and culture. Sonya is a Narungga, Ngarrindjeri, Ngadjuri, & Wirangu woman who is a
multidisciplinary artist. The multi-faceted work of Leah Purcell and the way she beautifully crafts and translates stories into stage and film in all aspects of her work. Truth telling is at the heart of her work. The depth and breadth of her work is truly
inspiring. The honesty that she brings with cultural integrity at the core of presenting stories as a playwright. All these elements are what inspires me to challenge myself and believe in myself.

What excites you most about this opportunity?

So many aspects excite me. First and foremost is that this fellowship will give me the opportunity to create from beginning an idea I’ve been thinking of for some time. I’ve collaborated on many projects but to develop my own production is exciting. It’s a scary and daunting prospect but I’m so eager to embrace the steep journey of learn

What attracted you to apply for the Fellowship?

The description of the fellowship sounded perfect for where I’m currently at with my writing career. While I’ve been a writer for a while now, playwrighting is a completely new skill to me, and the Brink fellowship provides an opportunity to develop a new work with the support of experienced people in the industry. I think that guidance is crucial when you’re starting out.

I’m also keen to network, not only because the process of theatre is so collaborative, but because I would love to see more Aboriginal theatre in South Australia. Beyond the fellowship, I’d love to help contribute to building more of a presence in our state and the networking part of the fellowship will be an invaluable part of working towards that.

It also ticked a lot of boxed for me in terms of being flexible – I have a young daughter who isn’t in school yet so the ability to negotiate my schedule appealed to me.

What do you hope to achieve over the next 12 months?

I’d love to create a work that goes above and beyond what I’ve previously done in terms of quality and impact.

I want to walk away from the fellowship feeling like I have a bit more of a roadmap of what I want to do, and how I can achieve it in the theatre space.

What playwrights inspire you?

Wesley Enoch and Nathan Maynard are definitely at the top for me. I also love the way Tennessee Williams draws his characters.

What excites you most about this opportunity?

Meeting new people, getting to do something that I love – working in theatre.

Other Info

I was selected as part of the 2023 Yirra Yaakin Playwright Festival where I developed a new play ‘Downstream’. I was so lucky to have it directed by Isaac Drandic and Nazaree Dickerson was the Dramaturg. The first act of the play was performed as a staged reading at the Subiaco Arts Centre and broadcast live across the country.

I’ve since written a short play, ‘Trail’s End’ which is currently showing in the Adelaide Fringe Festival, starring Dylan Miller, with Dramaturg Kyron Weetra.

Brink Productions Limited
PO Box 3262 Rundle Mall
South Australia 5000
T +61 8 8211 6565

We acknowledge that the land on which we create our stories is the traditional land of the Kaurna people who, for millennia, have been the original storytellers of this land, and we pay our respect to their Elders – past, present and future. Brink supports the Uluru Statement from the Heart and enshrining a Voice to Parliament in the Constitution. Learn more at https://ulurustatement.org/

We acknowledge that the land on which we live, and work is the  traditional land of the Kaurna people and pay our respects to their  Elders - past, present and future. Brink supports the Uluru Statement from the Heart and enshrining a Voice to Parliament in the Constitution. 

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