TWO issues seem to be foremost in the minds of young, emerging playwrights in Perth—identity and history.
There’s a collective sigh about the horrors of the past like slavery, colonialism and genocide, and a thoughtful gaze as they consider how they fit into society, perhaps as non-binary, a second-generation Australian, or both.
Nigerian-born playwright Mohammed ‘Ayo Busari explores identity and history in his two new plays, we are blooming and till we meet again, at the Blue Room Theatre in Northbridge.
We are blooming follows a bunch of young folk who are worried about climate change, but instead of getting out the placards and bullhorns, they embark on a “poetic celebration of resistance” through art, protest, memory and collective action.
“I’m passionate about using art as a way of justice and protest,” Busari says.
“I write poetry, I do theatre, and a lot of times I tend to use my art and my craft to talk about social justice and what’s happening in the environment.”
The play is centred around Busari’s love of the spoken word and literature, but also has projections, pre-recorded beats and some dance-like movement.
“It’s an ensemble-driven piece and it’s very poetic in terms of its language,” he says.
Busari’s other play, till we meet again, is a bit of an old-fashioned love story with a twist.
A songwriter and a poet fall in love, but their artistic temperaments blur the line between reality and fiction.
“It pretty much talks about the journey and the evolution of their relationship,” Busari says.
“The good and the bad that happened, and how difficult it is for an artist to be in love, while also being an artist.
“Maybe one person goes on tour and the other person is waiting for them, then when the other person gets back, the second partner has to leave.”
The two plays will be staged as part of the debut season of Blue Joy Theatre, a Perth company founded by Busari in 2025.
“Our mission is to help early career artists and underrepresented artists,” he says.
“So people of colour and Indigenous people, and those folk from different cultural and language backgrounds.”
The micro theatre group has three core members—Busari, Anja Starkiss and Kate Naunton Morgan—with others enlisted for productions.
Romantic
It’s an exciting time for Blue Joy Theatre as they have just moved into new office space at the Goolugatup Heathcote art precinct in Applecross.
Away from writing plays, the 28-year-old Busari has his fingers in lots of creative pies—he DJs, is a visual artist, works at the Blue Room Theatre, writes and performs electronic music, and is also a poet.
But right now he’s busy getting ready for Blue Joy Theatre’s upcoming shows.
“I like to write about identity and history, mostly in terms of my identity and history as an African person,” Busari says.
“The second thing I enjoy writing about is relationships: it could be a romantic relationship or friendship or even the relationship you have with your own family.”
We are blooming and till we meet again are on November 24–28 at the Blue Room Theatre in the Perth Cultural Centre, Northbridge. For tickets and more information see blueroom.org.au.
by STEPHEN POLLOCK