Bringing together some of Australia's most talented First Nations artists, sharing their powerful stories, 2025 Sydney Festival's Blak Out Program is brimming with engaging events and activities.

One event on the program's calendar set to draw a crowd is Redfern Renaissance. Taking place at Belvoir St Theatre, the stage presentation seriers has been created to take a deep dive into the history (and future) of First Nations theatre in a manner that is as educational as it is engaging.

Curated by Wiradjuri Yuin actor and Redfern resident Angeline Penrith (Wayside Bride), Redfern Renaissance is a series of workshops, discussion panels and performances celebrating the history of National Black Theatre, which operated in Redfern from 1972-1977.

The company left a long legacy of activism, self-determination and radical re-thinking of Blak futures through the arts.

Alongside Jacky in the Upstairs Theatre, two classic productions sit at the heart of the program: The Cake Man by Robert Merritt and Here Comes the N****r by Gerry Bostock – a work that has never been published in full and to this day can only be found in excerpts.

Redfern Renaissance will reckon with the indelible mark these two works made on Blak theatre.

Running from the 4th–26th of January, Sydney Festival is an opportunity for locals and visitors to engage in Sydney's culture through a variety of activities, experiences and performances.

Sydney Festival's creative artist in Residence Jake Nash, said that this year's Blak Out Program has been designed for attendees to engage in artistic practices all whilst learning and understanding more about First Nations history and culture.

"Across the whole program, there are stories about Country, our ancestors, our queer identities, and cultural responsibilities. If you're not a Blackfella, you'll get to see such a rich experience of who we are… you don't have to connect with everything, but something will stick," he said.

"You have to engage in the art to understand it."

Staged readings of The Cake Man, followed by a discussion panel, will take place on the following dates:

Friday 17 January at 5:30pm

Friday 24 January at 5:30pm

Staged readings of Here Comes the N****r, followed by a discussion panel, will take place on the following dates:

Saturday 18 January at 5:30pm

Saturday 25 January at 5:30pm

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