History

Utp (previously Urban Theatre Projects) history is built on the unceded lands of the First Nations people.

Since 1979 Utp has produced over one hundred and ten works, based on a process of dialogue between contemporary performance practice and diverse communities. Throughout Utp’s history it has remained at the forefront of arts practice creating important and ground-breaking performance work. Utp has received many awards over its history, including a Sidney Myer Award for outstanding contribution to theatre.

Utp has driven an investigation of new forms, new collaborations and new contexts, consistently challenging and reinvigorating the art form. In early years, as a way of reaching new audiences, a collective of young performance-makers made work on the streets, later shifting focus to working life, placing artists in working sites such as mining communities for, Coal Town (1984) and factories for, Behind the Seams (1988). In the early 90s the company moved to Western Sydney where communities became the performers as well as an essential part of the devising process, such as Café Hakawati (1991), a collaboration with Arabic-speaking communities at the time of the first Gulf War. In the mid 90s Utp began creating site-specific intimate spectacles, intersecting community cultural development and contemporary performance practice.

Under the artistic direction of Fiona Winning and John Baylis, landmark works included Hip Hopera (1995), Trackwork (1997), Speed St (1999) and Asylum (2001).

Under Alicia Talbot’s artistic direction (2001–2012), a new brand of work propelled the company into an exciting phase of growth, extending its profile and reputation nationally and internationally, including four large-scale works as part of Sydney Festival: Back Home (2006), The Last Highway (2008), The Fence (2010) and Buried City (2012).

From 2013 to 2019, Artistic Director Rosie Dennis significantly increased the company’s program, expanding to digital platforms, producing the company’s first film Bre & Back and shifting to a curatorial model while maintaining an artist-led culture and branding with her distinctive exuberance and sensitivity. Rosie delivered shows such as BANKSTOWN: LIVE (2015), My Radio Heart (2016), One Day for Peace (2016), Blak Box (2018), Talk Show (2018) and RIGHT HERE. RIGHT NOW. (2018).

Dr Jessica Olivieri is the current Artistic Director, bringing with her a strong connection to Western Sydney artists and communities, an artistic practice, an academic background, and a multidisciplinary approach grounded in performance. Jessica will continue the RIGHT HERE. RIGHT NOW. festival model, as well as working with Daniel Browning to continue to grow Blak Box and other First Nations programs. Jessica is passionate about building Utp’s legacy as a company that is inclusive of the multitude of voices that make up contemporary Australia.