Dinner Party at the End of the World is a multi-artform program inspired by the raw and powerful stories of the Lismore floods. It reflects on community, resilience, and the extraordinary ways people come together in a time of crisis.

A remarkable team of artists will each lead a creative development project, working with Northern Rivers residents. Artists and participants will respond to the climate crisis using a range of performance practices — including theatre-making, play, improvisation, dance and text. Together they’ll reflect on the many stories of strength, generosity and the enduring spirit of our region.

Research and development for this concept has been ongoing since 2023. This year’s creative projects will be documented on film and may form part of a future NORPA production.

Dinner Party at the End of the World is led by Artistic Director Julian Louis, and Artistic Associate Heather Fairbairn, with contributing artists including acclaimed playwright Suzie Miller, film maker Poppy Walker, and an incredible team of Associate Artists — Bridie Hooper, Fred Copperwaite, Jade Dewi Tyas Tunggal, Kaz Therese, Kimberley McIntyre, Mitch King, Naomi Feller, Noa Rotem and Sprung Ensemble.

WORKSHOPS

Stay tuned! As the project evolves, we’ll share updates and opportunities for you to get involved in this ambitious and multi artform program.

Coming up:

Improvisation workshop led by Fred Copperwaite
Using storytelling, movement, spoken word, games and play, participants will explore performance ideas sparked by the theme “The Dinner Party at the End of the World.” More info…

Future Feast
Primary students will contribute to the project via Future Feast, a creative learning journey that nurtures imagination, connection and care for the Earth. More info…

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MEET THE ASSOCIATE ARTISTS

Fred Copperwaite

(he/him)

Fred is a Bunuba man. He has worked as an actor, theatre director, dramaturg and acting teacher in Australia and abroad for over 45 years. He is a founder and former artistic director of Moogahlin Performing Arts, NSW leading First Nations performing arts company.

Jade Dewi Tyas Tunggal

(she/her)

Jade is a Javanese Australian choreographer, dancer and director celebrated for transcultural, interdisciplinary works that awaken the senses and spirit. Performed across the Indo-Pacific and beyond, her evocative creations ripple through theatres, galleries and natural landscapes. Collaborations with NORPA include Djurra, Wildskin and Flow.

Naomi Feller

(she/they)

Naomi Feller is a queer Lismore based artist with a disability who has 15 years of practice as an artist and arts worker. They are currently interested in creating hope, kindness and radical generosity as a social contagion and have connected across creative projects with NORPA since 2022.

Bridie Hooper

(she/her)

Bridie is an award-winning artist championing circus in experimental performance. Her career spans over a decade of performing internationally and locally with renowned companies such as CIRCA, and includes the creation of her acclaimed independent works; INGRESS, For Whom The Bell Tolls and Be Subservient To My Ambition.

Mitch King

(he/him)

Mitch is a performing artist, creative producer, and a proud Yaegl and Widjabul Wia-bul man from the Bundjalung nation on the east coast of Australia. His main disciplines are music, theatre, and dance. He loves telling stories through sound, movement and film.

Kimberley McIntyre

(she/her)

Kimberley is a dance maker, teacher and performer living in the Northern Rivers. Curious Body is her movement practice that has been an evolving offering to the community since 2014. Kimberley collaborates with other independent artists, directing and producing local dance projects. She also leads the Old Men Dancing OMD collective based in Mullumbimby.

Suzie Miller

(she/her)

Suzie is a contemporary international playwright, screenwriter and author, drawn to complex human stories often exploring injustice. Her plays have been produced in over a hundred productions around the world and won multiple prestigious awards. Suzi is currently under commission with several new plays, alongside film and television projects around the world.

Noa Rotem

(she/her)

Noa is a director, performer and educator. She has worked and trained extensively in Australia and internationally with companies including The Human Theatre, The Danger Ensemble, Little Dove Theatre Art and Anne Bogart’s SITI Company (NYC). Her work explores the transformative power of art-making, and how it can restore deep connection — to self, each other, and the world at large.

Sprung Ensemble

“We are all artists. See us. Hear us. Feel us. Know that we exist.” Sprung Ensemble (Bundjalung Country/Northern NSW) develops original dance and theatre works. Both a training program for emerging d/Deaf and/or disabled artists and professional performance ensemble, Sprung has presented works at Brunswick Picture House, NORPA, Plunge Festival, and Australian Dance Awards.

Kaz Therese

(they/them)

Kaz is an award-winning theatre maker, curator and cultural leader. A queer interdisciplinary artist working across theatre, visual arts and dance. Kaz is the Artistic Director of WEREWOLF exploring radical transformation in extreme times. Their current work includes Sleeplessness commissioned by Carriageworks, and They Will Be Kings presented at QTOPIA supported by Creative Australia. Kaz led workshops as part of NORPA'S Makers Hub program in 2023.

Poppy Walker

(she/her)

Poppy is a film director and writer based on Bundjalung Country, whose award-winning work has screened in Australia and abroad. Poppy’s collaborative practice spans documentary, narrative film and theatre, crafting stories to illuminate our shared humanity.