Kamarra Bell-Wykes
Kamarra Bell-Wykes (she/her) is a descendent of the Yagera and Butchulla people of South-East Queensland. She is a playwright, director, dramaturge, devisor, facilitator, performer, producer, curator, community developer and education consultant. Her transformative practice is highly sought after, delivering innovative research, resources and acclaimed performances.
In 2012 Kamarra graduated from Charles Darwin University and Batchelor Institute for Indigenous Education with a Bachelor of Teaching and Learning and was awarded an honor in recognising and responding to diversity in the classroom before working as a teacher and youth worker across the Northern Territory. She then returned to Melbourne in 2014 to build ILBIJERRI’s education and learning program from the ground up.
Kamarra’s transformative First Nation’s practice is highly sought after across the performing arts, community, health, education and justice sectors. Since 2017, Kamarra has been exploring the intersection between First Nations cultural and theatre processes, working closely with applied theatre experts Sarah Woodland and Free Theatre. In 2021, Kamarra is designed ILBIJERRI’s premier social impact model and ensemble to deliver community forums, workshops, performances and training across Australia.
Kamarra’s writing and directing credits include A Nightime Travesty (Yirramboi), Because the Night, (Malthouse Theatre), Chase (Malthouse Theatre and HotHouse Theatre), The Score, Scar Trees, Viral, North West of Nowhere, Body Armour, Chopped Liver, Shrunken Iris (ILBIJERRI), Crying Shame (Next Wave) and Mother’s Tongue (Yirra Yaakin).
In 2021, Kamara received the Patrick White Playwrights Award (Sydney Theatre Company) for her work Whose Gonna Love ‘Em? I am that i AM (Footscray Community Arts and ILBIJERRI).