Leaping from 17th-century Italy to today’s urban art scene in a fast, funny and thought-provoking mash-up of history, humour and imagination, new dark comedy Genius will premiere at Cairns’ Bulmba-ja Theatre from 26 September to 4 October 2025.
Written by acclaimed Darwin playwright Sandra Thibodeaux, directed by Nicky Fearn, and co-produced with JUTE Theatre Company and Cairns-based producer Simona Cosentini, Genius is inspired by the life, legacy (and genius) of Artemisia Gentileschi, a trailblazing 17th-century Baroque painter whose extraordinary talent reshaped art history.
Playwright Sandra Thibodeaux said the production is as bold as its subject. “Genius takes a sledgehammer to what we think we know about art history. Artemisia’s story is one of resilience, defiance and artistic ambition, and the work explores this incredible narrative through a modern, macabre lens,” she said.
“It throws centuries of gender bias up against the wall, breaks the wall, and spray-paints over it with brassy wit, grit and a very dark sense of humour,” added Thibodeaux.
Born in Rome in 1593, Artemisia Gentileschi was producing professional work by the age of 15 and went on to achieve success across Europe, where aristocratic and royal patrons sought her vivid, dramatic paintings.
Initially working in the style of Caravaggio, she carved out her own distinctive path, challenging convention and defying expectations of women artists in Baroque Europe and the male-dominated world of the arts.
Thibodeaux said the project itself has been a four-year creative journey spanning Australia and Italy, developed in collaboration with JUTE Theatre Company and Cairns-based producer Simona Cosentini.
“Much like Artemisia’s, Genius is itself a story of persistence, both are about ambition, invention and the determination to create ‘work’ in the face of obstacles. I am thrilled that together, we bring this story to life in Cairns,” she said.
Exploring weighty themes with a light touch, the production delivers theatrical flair, irreverence, and several rolling heads, jumping between centuries and art forms to spark conversation and laughter. The story is narrated by a modern rising-star street artist Miss Ella (played by Danielle Aquilina) who catapults audiences through centuries of history, dark secrets and rough justice.
JUTE’s Executive Artistic Director Chris Kohn said Genius exemplifies the power of regional collaboration. “By bringing together artists from Darwin, Cairns and beyond, we are reinforcing our creative connections across the top of Australia and proving that regional theatre is a hotbed of talent and storytelling,” said Kohn. “This project is about supporting artists to take risks, stretch their practice, and create work that resonates nationally.”
Longlisted for the Griffin Award and shortlisted for the NT Literary Awards, Genius will premiere in Cairns this month before travelling to Darwin in 2026.
Director: Nicky Fearn | Featuring: Danielle Aquilina, Cat Hart, Stevie Jean Kyriacou, Thomas Midena, Natalie Taylor | Set Design: Simone Tesorieri | Costume Design: Simona Cosentini | Costume Design Intern: Grace Meyers | Lighting Design: Lara Gabor | Sound Design/Composer: Stevie Jean Kyriacou | Projection Design: Russell Milledge | Production Manager: Tony Marshall | Stage Manager: Maddison Penglis | Dramaturg: Kathryn Ash | Playwright: Sandra Thibodeaux
Genius
Bulmba-ja Arts Centre, 96 Abbott Street, Cairns
Season: 26 September – 4 October 2025
Information and Bookings: www.jute.com.au
Image: JUTE presents Genius (supplied)