Some Secrets Should Be Kept Secret performer Brodie Murray on telling stories through a First Nations lens.
1. What is your lens and how do you apply it?
I work from a First Nations space and lens, with a focus on truth telling and shedding a light on Victorian Aboriginal stories. As a Wamba Wamba man, amplifying our stories which have been spoken over. Stories of the next generation, young peoples’ stories, young First Nations peoples’ stories. Telling family stories has also been important to me through that lens, such as the telling of my grandmother’s story a few years ago, in a play I wrote called ‘The Whisper’. Nan, who escaped the welfare in the 1940s under the cover of night by horse and cart with her Ngarindjerri family.
2. How do you approach your art?
I approach my Art as collaborator, deviser and playwright. I love working with new work, new stories. And dramaturgically, looking at diverse voices, artists from different backgrounds, collaboration between stories, different ensembles, bringing diverse stories to the stage, both as someone who has been a playwright before and also a performer. Stories which often have been spoken over, First Nations stories, young peoples stories, stories which haven’t been told yet in Australian theatre.
3. What’s your favourite way to work?
My favourite way to work is writing based, text based and also ensemble based. I often work with text rather than movement, but in recent years I have learned a lot more about movement, through my studies at VCA. I use an Indigenous led approach to my work. Working respectfully with First Nations people, abiding by country, place and the songlines we live on is central for me. Especially as a Wamba Wamba man who is living in Naarm, respecting the First Nations stories of Naarm within my Arts based practice.
Brodie Murray is a Wamba Wamba, Ngarindjerri and Scottish Australian multidisciplinary artist based in Naarm/ Melbourne. His practice spans playwriting, performance-making and acting. Driven by a passion for Koorie storytelling, he has written four plays: 'Soul of Possum' (YIRRAMBOI, Castlemaine State Festival and Fortyfivedownstairs), 'Billy’s Choice' (Melbourne Fringe), 'The Whisper' (Melbourne Fringe, Fortyfivedownstairs) and ‘Wiran’s Dream’ (MTC First Stage, YIRRAMBOI). VCA credits include: 'Tragedy Project' (dir. Kate Sulan) 'Phases' (dir. Josh Pether) and 'Solos' (dir. Joe Lui). Recent acting credits include ‘Peggy Sue and Wiran’s Dream: A Double Bill’ (YIRRAMBOI 2025) and ‘Soul of Possum’ (Fortyfivedownstairs 2025). Brodie has been recognised with several awards, including the Melbourne Fringe Best Emerging Indigenous Artist Award and Young Creatives Award, Creative Australia First Nations Emerging Career Development Award, Sofitel Melbourne on Collins Arts Award, Victorian Mr NAIDOC, and the All First Nations AFN Multi-talented Award. In 2023, he was a National Finalist, NAIDOC Youth of the Year for his contributions to the Arts. Brodie has writing published with Currency Press (Was and Will Be 2024, co-author) and has been a guest speaker at several writing events. Brodie is part of VCA Company of 2025, the graduating class of the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre) at the Victorian College of the Arts and a 2020 graduate of Aboriginal Performance at WAAPA.
Brodie and Wimiya Woodley in Soul of Possum. Image Darren Gill
LA MAMA PRESENTS THE STORYTELLER'S Some Secrets Should Be Kept Secret
10-29 March 2026
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