Who is Ian Michael?
I am a Wilman Noongar man. I am a son, brother, uncle. I am living on Boorlo or what is now known as Perth – the land of the Whadjuk Noongar people. I am an actor, writer, and Resident Artist at Black Swan State Theatre Company.
What would you do differently from what you do now?
I would just do it instead of waiting for people to tell me that I can or that I’m good enough to. But, maybe I’m doing it the way I’m supposed to now because of all that time I spent waiting for my turn.
Who inspires you and why?
I’m inspired by every blakfulla in this country, because of their resilience, their love, their humour, their passion, their intelligence, their fight, their talent.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
Hopefully I’m already doing it. Speaking up on the injustices of the world, sharing and amplifying the voices of the people who have been silenced, do the truth telling on how this country came to what we know it as now and empower my people in whatever way I can.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
Anywhere over here, it’s where the ocean meets the river, meets the bush, meets the wheat fields, meets the desert. The country looks and feels so different each place you go and I haven’t been able to visit enough of them yet.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
Cottesloe Beach – it’s usually the first place I go after being away. There is something very grounding about feeling the sand between your toes, the ocean air in your lungs and the bonus is, my favourite place to eat is across the road.
What are you currently reading?
Taboo by Kim Scott, Slave Play by Jeremy O. Harris
What are you currently listening to?
Debutante by Nakkiah Lui and Miranda Tapsell, Frontier War Stories by Boe Spearim.
Happiness is?
Knowing that my family are happy and when my niece tells me “I love you twenty four hours, Uncle I”.
What does the future hold for you?
Right now I’m in a development at Black Swan for a play that I’m co-writing called York which I hope will go on sometime in the next year, writing for the Critical Stages program Come to Where I Am Australia, I’ll be the Assistant Director on Dorian Gray at Sydney Theatre Company and some other things that will hopefully go on when we can all be in the same room together.
Ian has been commissioned to create a new 10 minute story for Come to Where I Am – Australia, an exciting new writing and performance initiative from Paines Plough and Critical Stages Touring. For more information, visit: www.criticalstages.com.au for details.
Image: Ian Michael (supplied)