Belvoir has announced Yuwaalaraay actor, screenwriter, and playwright Hannah Belanszky as the 2025 Balnaves Foundation Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Fellow.

Hannah’s debut play don’t ask what the bird look like premiered at Queensland Theatre in 2023, and was a finalist for the Nick Enright Prize for Playwriting as well as the Queensland Premier’s Drama Award.

Hannah Belanszky. Photo supplied

In 2024, Belanszky was commissioned by Australian Theatre for Young People to write Saplings, directed by Abbie-Lee Lewis (2024 Balnaves Associate, Counting and Cracking).

Belanszky’s other writing credits include co-writing QUT Acting’s (Tight in the Bud), co-writing Playlab Theatre and Metro Arts (Rising), writing, directing, and performing in her cabaret The Wives of Wolfgang which won Best Cabaret at the Adelaide Fringe weekly awards, with seasons also at Fringe World Perth and Brisbane Powerhouse. Hannah was also selected by Netflix for the Grow Creative writer’s program.

“I want to see black women on stage being complicated and flawed and making mistakes and living in our world, now. And I want to write my truth”, says Hannah. “There is such diversity of voice and experience in our mob that I want to share.”

Belanszky...