Episode 28: Naarah: Rising star of musical theatre, singer, actress, educator and cultural leader on her trailblazing journey

Decoding Cultural Leadership

In this episode, Sam speaks with Naarah, a talented young performer and cultural leader from Tasmania. Naarah shares her journey from teaching music in underserved communities to studying musical theatre at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London. She discusses the challenges and triumphs of building a career in the arts, the importance of representation and diversity on stage and screen, and her vision for cultural leadership.

Key Topics:

- Naarah's experience teaching music in low socioeconomic areas of Tasmania

- Studying musical theatre at the Royal Academy of Music in London

- The challenges of building a career in the arts industry

- The importance of resilience and perseverance

- Representation and diversity in the arts

- Indigenous perspectives and advocacy

- Cultural leadership and community values

- Favourite musical theatre inspirations and dream roles

Quotes:

"You can't be what you can't see. I just want young BIPOC and culturally and linguistically diverse people to see themselves on stage and to see us on screen."

"I think what's really important about my work is not so much the performing and the glitzy dresses but it's the backlit Outback shows in winter and touring The Sapphires to a tiny little town."

"The resilience required in this game is like nothing else."

Links:
Naarah's website
Naarah on Instragram
Naarah on TikTok

About Naarah:

Naarah is a Tasmanian performer, educator and cultural leader. She was named Young Tasmanian Australian of the Year in 2023 and is currently studying musical theatre at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Naarah is passionate about increasing diversity and representation in the arts and empowering young voices.

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Presenter and research: Sam Cairnduff

Creative Director: Niloofar Pashmforoosh

Presented in association with Limelight

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