Black is the New White is a provocative new romantic comedy commissioned by Sydney Theatre Company from writer, and star of ABC’s Black Comedy, Nakkiah Lui. Directed by STC’s former Richard Wherrett Fellow Paige Rattray (now Queensland Theatre’s Associate Artistic Director), the cast includes Kylie Bracknell, Tony Briggs, Luke Carroll, Geoff Morrell and Shari Sebbens, with set and costumes by former Resident Designer Renée Mulder.
Roy Gibson (Tony Briggs) decided long ago that, invited or not, his Aboriginal family would be taking their seats at tables of influence. With wife Joan (Melodie Reynolds-Diarra), he has expectations for his offspring; politics, race and power are the touchstones for this dynasty. So far their daughters, lawyer Charlotte (Shari Sebbens) and fashion designer Rose (Kylie Bracknell) have followed all the cues, found their light and performed in ways to make their parents proud.
But as the clan gathers for Christmas and one daughter brings her boyfriend Francis (James Bell) home to meet the folks, there’s a problem. A white, unemployed, experimental classical music composer with a conservative politician for a father (Geoff Morrell), is not in any script her parents had been following.
5 May to 17 June 2017. Opening Night: Wednesday 10 May 2017 at 8.00pm Wharf 1, Sydney Theatre Company, The Wharf, Pier 4/5 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay
