Acclaimed queer love story Whitefella Yella Tree at STC’s Wharf Theatre
Following a critically acclaimed premiere at Griffin Theatre Company in 2022, Dylan Van Den Berg’s Whitefella Yella Tree returns to Sydney for an encore season at Sydney Theatre Company’s Wharf 1 Theatre from 19 September. Pertame and Tiwi actor Joseph Althouse (The Visitors) will be joined by Barrd, Noongar, Yamatji, Bunuba and Ngadju actor Danny Howard, in his STC debut.
Sydney Theatre Company is thrilled to bring this “subtle, clever and straight to the heart” (ArtsHub) story to the Wharf 1 stage, with Griffin Artistic Director, Declan Greene and Wiradjuri and Worimi theatremaker Amy Sole at the helm.
A budding love story set on the edge of a world about to change, Whitefella Yella Tree follows two young Aboriginal men from neighboring clans, Ty (Althouse) and Ned (Howard), who meet under the branches of a lemon tree. As their bond deepens, the world around them begins to shift under the shadow of colonisation.
Whitefella Yella Tree marks the inaugural STC production of a work by Palawa playwright Dylan Van Den Berg. A former member of STC’s Emerging Writers Group, Van Den Berg is fast establishing himself as one of Australia’s most compelling new voices, with accolades including the Griffin Award, the Rodney Seaborn Playwrights Award, the David Williamson Prize and two NSW Premier’s Literary Awards.
Discussing the upcoming season of Whitefella Yella Tree, Dylan :
I never dreamed two lovestruck boys under a lemon tree would have such long legs! I’m over the moon to see Whitefella Yella Tree return to the stage, once again under the sharp and generous direction of Amy Sole and Declan Greene. And I’m equally excited for audiences to meet our dreamy new cast, Joseph Althouse and Danny Howard, who bring heart, heat and cheek to these boys. This story means a great deal to me, and I’m so proud to see it take root again at Sydney Theatre Company.
Declan Greene and Amy Sole team up with designer Mason Brown, lighting and co-designers Kelsey Lee and Katie Sfetkidis, composer and sound designer Steve Toulmin and dramaturg Andrea James to create this “exceptional work all-round” (The Queer Review).
Whitefella Yella Tree plays at Sydney Theatre Company’s Wharf 1 Theatre from 19 September sydneytheatre.com.au
Following the Sydney season, Whitefella Yella Tree will tour to La Boite Theatre from 23 October – 8 November and University of Melbourne Arts and Culture from 13– 15 November.
Season Details
Venue:Wharf 1 Theatre
Date: 19 Sep – 18 Oct 2025
For more information click HERE
