This five-part short documentary series follows the evolution of NORPA’s Dinner Party at the End of the World creative development program. Through the voices of its artists and collaborators, the series highlights NORPA’s signature approach to making new Australian theatre — one deeply grounded in Country, community, and collective storytelling.
Episode 1
Rise
Rise explores the role of the arts in times of crisis and recovery, revealing how creativity helps communities process trauma and find meaning.
Episode 2
Voice
Voice explores NORPA’s “homegrown stories” ethos; that our local stories illuminate universal themes.
Episode 3
Ground
Ground illuminates NORPA’s commitment to honouring First Nations stories and perspectives.
Episode 4
Play
Play steps inside NORPA’s devising process, revealing how theatre is built through experimentation, trust and collective discovery.
Episode 5
Shine
Shine reflects on Dinner Party at the End of the World as a beacon for community connection and renewal.
CREATIVE TEAM
Director and Producer: Poppy Walker
Cinematographer: Dominic Sullivan
Sound Recordist & Mix: Steve Nossiter
Lighting: Alex Torney
Additional Camera: Ryan Lee
Composer: Andy Walker, Blake Rhodes (Ground)
Editor: Dominic Sullivan
Technical support: Jake Dix and Dane Bodley
Supported by the NORPA team
WITH
Amber Alley
Geraldine Balcazar
Tanja Beer
Matt Blackman
Phil Blackman
Alice Boscheinen
Tallula Bourne
Sasha Bradbury
Daniele Constance
Katie Cooper-Wares
Fred Copperwaite
Tara Coughlan
Tora Crockford
Kirilly Dawn
Jesse De Graaf
Darius Devas
Jade Dewi Tyas Tunggal
Janessa Dufty
Tess Eckert
Heather Fairbairn
Naomi Feller
Milena Galli
On Gamolnet
Tom Goldschimdt
Anat Greenberg
Gabrielle Griffin
Paulina Heart
Bridie Hooper
Dave Houston
Marianna Joslin
Mitch King
Libby Lincoln
Julian Louis
Kimberley McIntyre
Cecilia Martin
Zachary Mifsud
Suzie Miller
Katia Molino
Emma Newman
Simone O’Brien
Noa Rotem
Joey Ruigrok Van Der Werven
Jeanti St Clair
Stuart Shugg
Sinead Skorka-Brennan
Shannon Smith
Kaz Therese
Alex Torney
Freya Toussaint
Jo Turner
Jonathan Wald
Paul Walker
Linda Whitefeather
Billie Wilson-Coffey
Neil Young
THANKS
Thank you to all artists, story sharers and workshop participants, Uncle Fox Laurie and the Yaegl Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation for their permission and support to film on country.
Commissioned and Produced by NORPA as part of the project Dinner Party at the End of the World. Interviews were held at The Joinery, NORPA’s new home.
NORPA acknowledges the Bundjalung and Yaegl peoples as the traditional custodians of the unceded lands and waters on which these films were created.
This project was made possible by the Australian Government Regional Arts Fund, which supports the arts in regional and remote Australia.
