Black Swan State Theatre Company of Western Australia acknowledges the Whadjuk people of the Nyoongar Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live.

First Nations People have been telling stories on this country for many thousands of years, and we acknowledge their incredible contribution to the cultural and environmental landscape we reside in.

Wiyawiya Project 2
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Wiyawiya Project

Written by Black Swan State Theatre Company 2 July 2025 3 min

Indigenous Performing Arts Mentorship Initiative

Are you an aspiring Indigenous performer seeking professional development and support on your artistic journey?

Expressions of Interest are now open for the Wiyawiya Project, a culturally grounded Indigenous Performing Arts Mentorship Initiative created by Naomi Pigram Mitchell. This unique opportunity is designed to empower emerging First Nations artists through skill-building, storytelling, and mentorship with established industry professionals.

Wiyawiya Project is a Pigram Productions initiative supported by Black Swan State Theatre Company and Minderoo Foundation.

PROGRAM OUTCOME 

Following the workshops and auditions, a select number of artists will be invited to join the Wiyawiya Project.

HOW TO APPLY

To express your interest and register for the program, please apply through the link below by 25 July 2025

PERTH PROGRAM – WORKSHOP & AUDITIONS 

Location: Subiaco Arts Centre

Dates: Tuesday 5 - Thursday 7 August 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Catered lunch 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM)

Full-day workshop covering all aspects of live performance: singing, acting, music, dance, and professional development.

Auditions: No specific brief – just bring your talent. 

REGISTER YOUR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

MEET THE MENTORS

JARRED WALL - BOOX KID

Jarred Wall, known as Boox Kid is a First Nation (Noongar) artist blending dreamy electropop with cross-genre versatility. His 2024 debut EP, Reflections, garnered over 200k streams, with track "I Don’t Mind" featured on major editorial playlists. A prominent performer, Boox has graced stages at BIGSOUND, Nannup Music Festival, Perth Festival, and supported George Ezra and Jen Cloher.

Beyond music, Boox showcased his talent in Noongar-language operas, Koolbardi Wer Wardong and Wundig Wer Wilura, and debuted as a sound designer with Yirra Yakkin Theatre Company in the production ‘Operation Boomerang’. An advocate for First Nations artists, Boox participated in APRA NATSIMO’s RESONATE program, collaborating with artists like Jem Cassar-Daly, Cloe Terare and Candice Lorrae. Boox Kid’s latest single, Landslide, was released on January 31, 2025, followed by a performance at Perth Festival with Electric Fields on February 7.

TEEJAY DINGO-WOODS

Teejay Dingo-Woods is a Yamatji/Noongar actor and emerging voice in Australian theatre, known for his commitment to Indigenous storytelling and cultural expression. A graduate of the Aboriginal Performance and Advanced Diploma in Acting program at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), Teejay has been involved in productions that explore the intersection of traditional First Nations culture and contemporary performance.

In 2022, Teejay was part of a studio production of Black Medea, Wesley Enoch’s adaptation of the Greek tragedy, reimagined within an Australian First Nations context. This production, performed by First Nations actors enrolled in WAAPA's Aboriginal Performance program, utilized yarning as a methodology to explore themes such as the destruction of Country, intergenerational violence, and the Spirit World. Teejay is an advocate for transgender visibility and inclusion.

In 2024, he publicly shared his journey as a transgender man, launching a fundraiser to support his top surgery, highlighting the challenges faced by transgender individuals in accessing gender-affirming healthcare.

TINASHE SAMPIE

Tinashe Sampie is a professional dancer whose journey is rooted in storytelling, cultural pride, and self-liberation through movement. Beginning her dance career at 16, she found her foundation in street dance styles such as Dancehall, Afro and Hip Hop, each grounded in the everyday resistance and creative expression of marginalized communities.

Today, Tinashe fuses these global styles with her own cultural identity, creating a unique voice in the dance world that speaks to both heritage and evolution. She is the founder of House of Totem, a groundbreaking program dedicated to empowering young Indigenous women. Through this work, she provides safe and powerful spaces for girls to explore their worth, step into leadership, and reclaim their stories through dance.

Under her belt, Tinashe holds two dance championship titles, placed Top 16 in the global Red Bull Dance competition, and has trained professionally in Brisbane, Dublin, London, Los Angeles and Paris. She has performed for Nigerian artist Rema and appeared twice on MTV, showcasing her talent on international stages.

As the first Indigenous woman in her field to build such a program, Tinashe is not only making space—she’s changing the game. Her mission is to nurture unapologetic self-expression and build bridges between culture and street style movement, creating community through rhythm, story, and shared healing.

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