Steven Oliver – December 20 2020

Steven is a playwright, poet, producer, screenwriter, actor, dancer and comedian. He has also been a gameshow host hosting NITV’s Indigenous arts game show, Faboriginal. Steven 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 in the Music Theatre Programme at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) before going on to become Assistant Artistic Director with the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts in Brisbane. Steven 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. As an actor he is best known for Thor: Ragnarok, A Chance Affair and Black Comedy, for which he was also a writer. As a poet, Steven has been a Queensland state finalist twice and national finalist in the Australian Poetry Slam. His poem, ‘Hate, he said’, is published in Ora Nui: Special Edition: A Collection of Maori and Aboriginal Literature and Steven says his proudest moment was when he was asked to read this poem at Parliament House. Steven’s musical, Black Queen Black King (composed byPhil Slade), was performed in Queensland Theatre Company’s Creative Development Series and in the Brisbane Powerhouse’s World Theatre Festival Program in 2016. Steven currently works full-time at the Brisbane Indigenous Media Association as its Creative Director.

Proppa Solid (published in Northern Perspectives)
Publisher Playlab, 2014; ISBN 9781921390944
Full length; 5 female, 4 male (3 actors)
Audience age: children, teen, young adult, adult
The year is 2067 and Paul Toppy, your everyday Aboriginal President, runs The Republic of Australia. Problem is, Paul doesn’t know much about being Aboriginal. All that changes one day when Paul on his Presidential campaign steps onto sacred ground. Travelling back in time he meets a family who teaches him values he forgot about in his quest to be President of The Republic. During his stay with the family, Paul starts to question the importance of family and identity and just what is the true meaning of success.

Looky Looky Here Comes Cooky
SBS on Demand; released August 2020
Directed by Steven McGregor
2020 marks the 250th anniversary to James Cook’s arrival, but is his arrival told the way it happened, or was some of the story cooked? What Oliver attempts to do throughout this film is create a modern-day songline because, as Oliver puts it, songlines “detail the creation of this land, and all that’s upon it”. Oliver interviews Elders, historians and First Nations musicians such as Dan “Trials” Rankine, Nathan “Birdz” Bird, Mojo Juju (“Mo’Ju”), Fred Leone and Kev Carmody. Each lends their musical talents to the film with a song. Oliver creates not only a beautiful film, but an informative one too, and Steven McGregor’s direction creates a positive, relaxed atmosphere, making this part-comedy, part-history documentary a joy to watch. (Based on reflections by Travis Akbar, Reconciliation SA’s Productions and Events Coordinator)