Laila Thaker on Culture, Courage and Craft

Laila Thaker’s journey is one of identity, resilience and powerful storytelling. A proud Torres Strait Islander (Meriam/Wagadagam) and Indian (Ratlamwali) performer, Laila opens up about reconnecting with her heritage and carving out space in the Australian arts scene. In this heartfelt episode of Showtime with Andrew G, she reflects on growing up between cultures, finding her voice through theatre and using her platform to represent and uplift. Currently starring in Super at Red Stitch, Laila speaks about the play’s sharp take on capitalism, care and the quiet strength of women. She also shares how motherhood has shifted her relationship with time, rest and the industry itself. With honesty and warmth, Laila invites us into her world, reminding us that the stories we tell and the way we live them matter. This is a conversation about culture, courage and creativity, led by one of Australia’s most thoughtful emerging voices.

 

🎭 Super
🗓️  18 June to 6 July
📍 Red Stitch Actors' Theatre
🎟️ redstitch.net

 

Super is a bold and imaginative new work by acclaimed playwright, essayist and poet Emilie Collyer, making its world premiere with Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre. Directed by renowned theatre maker Emma Valente, co-artistic director of THE RABBLE, this original production offers a darkly comic and thought-provoking exploration of power, care and the complexities of female friendship.

The story centres on Phoenix and Nel, two women who meet weekly to support each other and quietly use their superpowers to make the world a better place. Their lives are turned upside down with the arrival of Rae, a charismatic celebrity chef whose ambition and influence propel the pair from secret helpers to global icons. What begins as an exciting transformation soon spirals into chaos, forcing each woman to confront the limits of their abilities and the cost of being extraordinary.

Featuring a dynamic cast including Red Stitch ensemble member Caroline Lee, Lucy Ansell and First Nations actor Laila Thaker, Super delivers a genre-defying theatrical experience. With sharp wit and emotional depth, the play cleverly examines how care is performed and perceived, and what happens when it becomes a commodity.

Commissioned through Red Stitch’s INK development program, Super has evolved over several years into a powerful and highly relevant production. It tackles timely themes with humour and insight, offering audiences a refreshing and subversive take on the superhero narrative. Balancing laugh-out-loud absurdity with moments of genuine poignancy, Super challenges us to consider how far we would go to change the world—and at what cost.

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LAILA THAKER is a proud Torres Strait Islander (Meriam/Wagadagam) and Indian (Ratlamwali) actor known for her bold, authentic storytelling and commitment to meaningful representation. A graduate of James Cook University with a BA in Theatre and a Certificate IV in Film and Television from TAW Brisbane, Laila’s career spans a wide range of work from Shakespeare to Sarah Kane.

Her stage credits include The Return (Malthouse Theatre), Coconut Woman (YIRRAMBOI), and Viral (ILBIJERRI), showcasing her versatility across contemporary and political theatre. On screen, she has appeared in RFDS (Seven), Five Bedrooms (Paramount+), Wentworth (Foxtel), Informer 3838 and Bad Mothers (Nine Network), My Life is Murder (Network Ten), The Queen and I (NITV/ABC), House Husbands (Nine), and the Netflix series Apple Cider Vinegar. Her international screen work includes the US feature films San Andreas and Christmas Downunder.

Laila’s performance in Prayers to Broken Stone (Boutique Theatre) earned her the Melbourne Fringe Award for Best Emerging Indigenous Artist in 2017. As a proud member of ICMEAA, she remains committed to championing First Nations voices and affirming Blak storytelling within the Australian arts landscape.

Laila brings depth, power and cultural integrity to every role she inhabits, continuing to carve out space for diverse narratives in theatre, film and television.