Meet Our 2025 Staging the World Participants
June 24, 2025
Parramatta’s emerging artists are set to take centre stage, as award-winning UK playwright, poet and actor Azan Ahmed touches down this month as part of Riverside’s National Theatre of Parramatta (NTofP)’s Staging the World Mentorship Program.
Now in its third year and backed by the Girgensohn Foundation, the two-week intensive program is a launchpad for original stories from eight emerging diverse poets, performers, playwrights and creative hybrids to leap from the streets of Western Sydney to the world stage.
The 2025 Staging the World participants are:
Nickin Alexander
DEFNE
Dilroop Khangura
Aliyah Knight
Rania Omar
Kid Pharaoh
Mây Trần
City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Martin Zaiter said the Staging the World program is living proof that the global stage starts right here in Parramatta.
“This is a major cultural moment not just for Parramatta, but for Australian theatre and proof of what can happen when international excellence meets local talent,” Cr Zaiter said.
“Staging the World proves that incredible talent lives right here in our City and that with the right support, these stories can go from Western Sydney to the world.
“We’re putting Parramatta on the global arts map – showcasing the vibrant stories, creativity and cultural energy that thrive in our City.”
Staging the World is also part of the NTofP’s wider commitment to fostering inclusive stories, supporting artistic growth and spotlighting the extraordinary creative potential found in the heart of Parramatta.
A rising star of the UK theatre scene and founder of Deen & Dunya, Azan Ahmed brings serious international credentials, having worked with Shakespeare’s Globe, The National Theatre London and the Royal Shakespeare Company. His award-winning play Daytime Deewane, which earned the 2023 Off West-End Award for Best Writing (TYA) is also set to be staged later this year at Riverside.
Staging the World mentor Azan Ahmed said he’s incredibly excited and honoured to be leading the Staging the World program this year.
“Every participant is brilliant,” Mr Ahmed said.
“Together we will mine through what it means to be a multi-hyphenate and how to create authentic work safely.
“I can’t wait to lend a helping hand to Sydney’s most exciting storytellers as they step into their powers.”
After two intensive weeks, the program will culminate in Bars from the Heart – a spoken word showcase on Saturday 5 July, forming the centrepiece of Riverside’s Heartland Festival – a vibrant annual celebration of Western Sydney’s multicultural creativity.
To find out how 2025 marks the program’s most global edition yet, visit City of Parramatta’s Staging the World Mentorship Program.
ABOUT MENTOR, AZAN AHMED
Azan Ahmed is an actor, poet & award-winning playwright. He is the founder & lead producer of Deen & Dunya.
Previous theatre credits include: Much Ado About Nothing (RSC); Statues (Bush); After Sex (Arcola); Ten Nights (Omnibus); The Father and The Assassin (National Theatre); The Tempest (Shakespeare’s Globe); Name, Place, Animal, Thing (Almeida Theatre); Conspiracy (New Diorama Theatre / Underbelly Edinburgh); (This Isn’t) A True Story (Almeida Young Company at Rose Lipman Building); Cacophony (Almeida Young Company at Yard Theatre); Never Swim Alone (Etcetera Theatre). Previous screen credits include: Code of Silence (ITV); Just Act Normal (BBC 3); Van Der Valk (ITV); Count Abdulla (Fudge Park / ITVX); Mood (BBC / Bonafide); Hope Street (BBC / Britbox); Doctors (BBC); What’s Love Got To Do With It? (Instinct Productions / The Searchers).
Writing credits include: Statues (Bush); Daytime Deewane (Half Moon & Tour). Daytime Deewane won the 2023 Off-West End award for Best Writing (TYA), and Statues was nominated for Best New Play and Best Lead Performance in the 2025 Off West-End Awards.