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First Nations Artist
and Consultant
Meriam/Ku-Ku Yulangi man
From the Torres Strait Islands and Northern Queensland
Born and bred in Naarm
About me
After more than thirty-five years working across theatre, television, documentary, drama, film, and poetry, John Harding has produced thirteen staged theatrical productions and received multiple state and national awards, including the Australian Human Rights Award. Published three times as a playwright by Currency Press, he specialises in creative writing and has served on Indigenous advisory committees for the Melbourne Arts Festival, the Australian Arts Law Centre, and the First Nations of Australia Writers Network. John continues to write and now advises artists, both mob and allies, as a cultural and artistic consultant, sharing his expertise to support the next generation of Indigenous and collaborative creative work.
Upcoming Reading 5th December 2026, Melbourne
Maireener Speaks
A new play by John Harding
Every object has a story. Some have an alibi.
Join us for a free public reading of Maireener Speaks, a new play weaving mystery and mischief into a whimsical yet sobering exploration of stolen cultural artefacts.
An artefact passes from hand to hand, carrying the stories of the people whose lives it touches. A curator becomes entangled in a murder mystery, with an artefact providing the only clue. As lives and histories intertwine, questions of ownership, truth and belonging begin to surface.
Blending humour, intrigue and uncomfortable questions, John Harding’s developing work asks what objects carry with them—and whose voices we hear when their histories are told.
Creative team
Playwright: John Harding
Director: Glenn Shea
Dramaturg: Chris Mead
Cultural Consultant: Gaye SculthorpeCast
Greg Fryer, Phoebe Grainer, Teresa Moore, Siem Putland, Corey Saylor-Brunskill and Nathan Wright
Event details
Date: 4 December
Time: 6.30 pm
Venue: The Meeting Room, Meat Market
Address: 5 Blackwood Street, Melbourne
Tickets: Free. Places are limited, so bookings are essential.This public reading is a workshop presentation of a work in development.
Proudly supported by Creative Victoria.
It begins with an idea
With 35 years in theatre, TV, film, and poetry, John Harding guides artists as a playwright, director, and Indigenous cultural consultant.
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to Elders past and present. We honour their enduring connection to Country and culture, and the wisdom carried through stories, learning, and community
Always Was, Always Will Be
John Harding © 2025
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