MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education)
Incorporated pursuant to order of Council of 7 September 2021:
It is with great pleasure that I rise today to congratulate Geelong’s Back to Back Theatre for an outstanding accomplishment on the world stage, winning the International Ibsen Award.
Back to Back’s ensemble and artists, under the direction of Bruce Gladwin for 22 years, are all neurodiverse, and their productions emphasise their commentary on broad social and cultural themes with a clear message that values equality and diversity.
This is an extraordinary achievement for unique, challenging theatre based in regional Victoria.
The prize of nearly $400 000 will enable the company to extend their creativity and to develop new productions.
No strangers to international performance, they will take The Shadow Whose Prey the Hunter Becomes, which I have seen, and Ganesh Versus the Third Reich to Oslo where they will formally accept their award.