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Jack Charles : A Born Again Black Fella

Sun 8 Sep 2019

Uncle Jack Charles

The Edge, State Library of Queensland

Conversation

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#Performances

#About the event

Duration: 60 minutes

Uncle Jack Charles is one of Australia’s finest and most beloved actors. A member of the Stolen Generations, Uncle Jack will regale us with his memories from his sideline as a cat burglar, battles with drug addiction and stints in prison, to gracing the nation’s stages and screens as he dazzled audiences with his big personality and acting prowess.

#Artist

Uncle Jack Charles

Uncle Jack Charles is an Australian legend: survivor of the Stolen Generation Indigenous elder actor musician activist and former heroin addict and cat burglar. Now on the cusp of his 75th birthday he tells the story of how he became a born-again blakfella and one of Australia's most beloved actors.

#Moderator

Steven Oliver

Steven Oliver is a descendant of the Kukuyalanji, Waanyi, Gangalidda, Woppaburra, Bundjalung and Biripi peoples. He studied at the Aboriginal Music Theatre Training Programme in Perth and from there was accepted into the Music Theatre Programme at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).

Upon his return to Queensland he took on the role of Assistant Artistic Director with the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts in Brisbane. He has worked with companies such as Yirra Yaakin Noongar Theatre, Kooemba Jdarra Theatre, La Boite Theatre, JUTE Theatre Company, Kite Theatre and the Queensland Arts Council.

He has had showings of his musical Black Queen Black King as part of Queensland Theatre Company’s Creative Development Series in Association with Playlab and also at the Brisbane Powerhouse for their World Theatre Festival Program. He has also been a Queensland state finalist twice in Brisbane and national finalist for the Australian Poetry Slam at the Sydney Opera House. He has also had his play Proppa Solid (originally Proper Solid) produced by JUTE Theatre Company in 2014 that will tour Queensland in 2016 and will also be published by Playlab. He is also a writer, actor and associate producer for ABC’s Logie nominated sketch show Black Comedy and has just finished filming season 2 to air in 2016.