My Shows
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

World Premiere Performance of SLEEPLESSNESS is Now on at Carriageworks

Performances run through 13 August.

By:

World Premiere Performance of SLEEPLESSNESS is Now on at Carriageworks Image

Sleeplessness, a new performance work by Australian artist Kaz Therese is now showing at Carriageworks, Australia's largest contemporary multi-arts precinct, until 13 August. Part-mystery, part-documentary, part forensic investigation, this quintessentially Australian story follows a fractured narrative in this radically honest story of self-discovery.

Developed over the past two decades by Kaz Therese, they said of the story: "I grew up not knowing my family history. Apart from a photo of my grandmother sitting on my mother's mantel, there were no other details about what happened to this woman, and why we didn't know more. I couldn't sleep from not knowing and became obsessed with trying to recreate an archive for my family that didn't exist. I thought I could stitch back the body of my family through art, and in doing so I found a story that I feel most Australians can relate to.

"This story has so many different elements but is ultimately about conversations around class in Australia and a fight against erasure. It's shining a light on the Forgotten Australians and highlighting the impact of institutionalisation on Australian children which is still a major issue. These are the stories that we don't often hear about."

Alongside the performances is a program of events. On 6 August there will be a post-show conversation with Kaz Therese and Dr Adele Chynoweth, Curator of the National Museum of Australia's touring exhibition Inside: Life in Children's Homes and Institutions moderated by Sarah Miller AM, Director of Learning and Innovation, NIDA. This informal discussion will respond to the themes of class and institutionalisation. On 11 August, there will be a post-show conversation inviting Care Leavers as well as members of the Stolen Generation and Asylum Seeker/Refugee communities to discuss their experiences of class in Australia. Speakers include Leonie Sheedy AM, CEO and co-founder of Care Leavers Australasia Network, Uncle Michael 'Widdy' Welsh, Chairperson of the Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation, refugee advocate Zaki Haidari and artist Nadeena Dixon moderated by Sarah Miller AM. This performance and public program event will be Auslan interpreted.



Theater Fans' Choice Awards
2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats
Best Lead Performer in a Play - Top 3
1. Daniel Radcliffe - Every Brilliant Thing
27.8% of votes
2. Nathan Lane - Death of a Salesman
12.8% of votes
3. Ayo Edebiri - Proof
6.4% of votes

Don't Miss a Australia - Sydney News Story
Sign up for all the news on the Spring season, discounts & more...


Videos


Morning Melodies: Christmas with Lucy Durack in Australia - Sydney Morning Melodies: Christmas with Lucy Durack
Kingston City Hall (12/08-12/08)
Disney Presents The Lion King - Auslan Interpreted Performance in Australia - Sydney Disney Presents The Lion King - Auslan Interpreted Performance
Capitol Theatre, Sydney (8/12-8/12)
Faulty Towers The Dining Experience - Pokolbin in Australia - Sydney Faulty Towers The Dining Experience - Pokolbin
Hunter Farm & Adventure Centre (5/07-10/22)
Pay No Attention  in Australia - Sydney Pay No Attention
Flying Fruit Fly Circus (7/04-7/11)
La Stupenda: A Joan Sutherland Celebration in Australia - Sydney La Stupenda: A Joan Sutherland Celebration
Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House (8/20-8/22)
Temple of Desire in Australia - Sydney Temple of Desire
Karma Dance (6/04-6/05)
Skank Sinatra: The Name on Everybody's Lips in Australia - Sydney Skank Sinatra: The Name on Everybody's Lips
The Loading Dock Theatre (6/10-6/14)
Beyond the Beehive: Amy Winehouse's Musical Mastery in Australia - Sydney Beyond the Beehive: Amy Winehouse's Musical Mastery
Kingston Arts Centre (7/31-7/31)
Anastasia - The Broadway Musical - Audio Described Performance in Australia - Sydney Anastasia - The Broadway Musical - Audio Described Performance
Sydney Lyric (6/27-6/27)
The Shark Is Broken in Australia - Sydney The Shark Is Broken
Foundry Theatre (8/28-9/27)