Preview: The Other Side of Me @ Northern Stage

Picture by Gregory Lorenzutti

A powerful piece of First Nations dance theatre arrives at Northern Stage on Wednesday 20th May, as The Other Side of Me makes its long‑awaited UK premiere after a critically acclaimed Australian tour that ends at the Sydney Opera House.

Created through a collaboration between Northumbria University and Gary Lang NT Dance Company, the production explores the trauma of Australia’s Stolen Generations through an intimate duet performed by two male dancers — two halves of the same man, divided between the British life he knows and the Indigenous identity he longs to reclaim.

The work carries deep resonance in the North East. Originally scheduled for 2020, its cancellation became one of the region’s many pandemic‑halted projects. It also stands as a tribute to writer and Northumbria academic Dr Laura Fish, whose death in 2024 gave the production new emotional weight. Fish’s correspondence with a young Aboriginal man — navigating the loss of culture, family and belonging — became the beating heart of the piece.

Blending contemporary and First Nations dance, physical theatre and literature, The Other Side of Me examines identity, displacement and the long shadow of colonialism with striking clarity. Produced by BlakDance, it has toured nationally across Australia, drawing widespread acclaim for its emotional precision and cultural power.

Liz Pavey, Assistant Professor at Northumbria University and co-creator of the production, said: “It is a joy that The Other Side of Meis finally coming to the North East after all this time. This is such an important story, and we are so excited that North East audiences can finally connect with it – I know they will be moved, challenged, and in awe of the choreography. It raises profound questions about colonialism and belonging that resonate far beyond Australia.

“This is also a wonderful moment of international recognition for Gary and his extraordinary artistry. And of course, it is a tribute to Laura – a chance for all those who knew her to remember the incredible cultural impact she had on creative writing, on this region, and well beyond.”

Gary Lang, the choreographer of this piece and Artistic Director of Gary Lang NT Dance Company, adds: “While this work was inspired by a specific and gut-wrenching story about the loss of a Blak boy’s identity, the exploration is about the many ‘what if’ moments we can all recognise in our lives. The Other Side of Me is about the prison that everyone has in their own minds – how we keep ourselves behind bars and how we try to find our own freedom.”