Drama

Back to Bilo

Belloo
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Photo by Stephanie Coombes
About the work

A true-life testimony to people power and persistence

Priya and Nades left war-torn Sri Lanka and found each other in regional Queensland. They married, had two daughters, worked hard and settled into a simple but happy country life.

The community welcomed them with open arms — but four years later came a knock at the door and they were ripped away in a dawn raid.

Their story could have ended there, but a brave band of Biloela women weren’t giving up on them so easily.

Fighting alongside the young refugee family, they launched a grassroots, people-powered campaign that galvanised hundreds of thousands of ordinary Australians to demand the family be brought back to Bilo. This is the remarkable true account of one family’s ordeal in the nightmare limbo of immigration detention, a story of how love is stronger than fear and of how persistence and togetherness can win against crushing odds.

Back to Bilo is a profoundly moving new play from celebrated local company Belloo Creative (Boy, Lost) and is made with — and from — the heart of regional Queensland.




Details

Drama

General

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse People

Regional communities

Early Secondary12 - 15 years
Late Secondary16 - 17 years
Adult18+ years

From 2027

Until 2028



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Reviews

“Back to Bilo is a powerful piece of theatre with connection, care and community at its core.”

★★★★½

ArtsHub
Media Review

“A moving story of resilience and resistance, Back to Bilo is a call to action in every sense.”

★★★★

Limelight
Media Review

“The remarkable story of the Nadesalingams and Biloela makes for compelling theatre”

The Guardian
Media Review

“This theatrical piece is about the power of a rural community, but also the strength of a collaborative theatrical community.”

Stage Whispers
Media Review

“Writer Katherine Lyall-Watson’s crafting of the script in line with the conventions of verbatim theatre and director Caroline Dunphy’s delicate treatment of sensitive material resulted in a play that was a compact and well-paced powerhouse production.”

Nothing Ever Happens in Brisbane
Media Review
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Performances

Queensland Theatre Company
Brisbane

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Acknowledgement of Country

We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

QTouring acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands, winds and water ways.

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