Black is the New White at STC

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.

Nakkiah Lui’s previous plays include Blaque Showgirls, Kill the Messenger, Blak Cabaret, Blackie Blackie Brown: The Traditional Owners of Death, Stho Sthexy, I Should Have Told You Before We Made Love (That I’m Black) and This Heaven’ Playwright. A monthly columnist for The Australian Women’s Weekly, she contributes to The Guardian and Junkee and has appeared on ABC’s Q&A and The Drum and as a regular guest and presenter on

Director: Paige Rattray. Designer: Renée Mulder. Lighting Designer: Ben Hughes. Composer & Sound Designer: Steve Toulmin

Cast: James Bell, Kylie Bracknell, Tony Briggs, Luke Carroll, Vanessa Downing, Geoff Morrell, Melodie Reynolds-Diarra, Shari Sebbens, Anthony Taufa.

ABC Radio Sydney.

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

Pricing and ticket information:

2017 Season Tickets (packs of 6 – 14 plays) on sale now

A Season Ticket saves at least 20% on full price single tickets as well as offering many other benefits.

Single tickets: Saturday evening $99, Adult $94, Seniors cardholder $86, Concession $75, Preview $75, Under 30 $75

Box Office: 02 9250 1777. www.sydneytheatre.com.au

Insight events:

Free Pre-season Briefing: Wed 19 April at 6.15pm Wharf 1 Theatre
Audi Nights with the Actors: Monday 22 May & Monday 5 June (post-show)