Somebody's Daughter Theatre
Natalie. About Me, 2003. Image: courtesy Somebody’s Daughter Theatre Company
Somebody’s Daughter Theatre Company (SDT) is a community arts organisation that works with disadvantaged young people, women in prison and after their release.
For more than 20 years, the organisation has developed arts-led programs to enhance the health and well being of communities.
A major focus of SDT's work is addressing inter generational cycles of poverty, abuse and disadvantage which can spiral to addiction, self-destructive behaviour, criminal behaviour and institutionalisation.
SDT has established itself as a truly contemporary voice in Australian theatre, and is renowned for speaking loudly about some confronting issues – including drugs, separation, addiction, crime, sexuality – with clarity, passion and wit.
SDT productions are presented inside prisons, in schools, local communities and mainstream theatres and have the ability to inform, challenge assumptions, and even change lives. A signature of the company is that it works intensively with communities for the long-term. SDT has proved itself a national leader in community arts and an outstanding model of effective social change: The creative model working - where often all else has failed.
The company regularly works in collaboration with education, health and welfare agencies to establish strong community partnerships.
In 2000 the company’s first ‘official offspring’ was developed in Albury/Wodonga. HighWater Theatre is a creatively led education program for young people outside the mainstream school system.
Since 2000 SDT has devised and performed 18 original plays, staged 278 performances to more than 46,500 people, presented at 39 conferences, guided 384 community workshops, and prepared and mounted 17 art exhibitions.