Government, Partners & Media Information
Cultural Participation
We Speak Eleven – The Musical is built on the belief that culture lives with the people.
It is not something to be observed from a distance, but something to be shared, lived, and carried forward together.
Cultural participation is therefore not an add-on to the production — it is part of its foundation.
Community Voices on Stage
At selected tour stops, local cultural groups, choirs, storytellers, and traditional performers are invited to participate in the live experience by opening the show.
Participation is open to:
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Community groups and cultural practitioners
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Elders, youth groups, and local storytellers
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Traditional performers and informal ensembles
Professional experience is not a requirement. Authenticity, cultural ownership, and willingness to share are valued above performance polish.
Respect for Cultural Expression
All community participation is approached with care and respect.
The production does not reinterpret, commercialise, or alter cultural expression. Communities are invited to present their traditions in their own way, on their own terms.
Where needed, engagement and consultation take place ahead of performances to ensure that:
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Cultural protocols are respected
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Representation is accurate and appropriate
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Participants feel safe and valued
Shared Space, Shared Experience
By placing community voices on the same stage as the touring production, the musical creates a shared space where cultures are not separated into categories, but presented as part of a living national story.
This approach encourages:
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Mutual respect and understanding
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Intergenerational exchange
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Pride in local identity within a national context
Local Skills and Short-Term Opportunities
In addition to cultural participation, the production seeks to involve local people in practical and creative ways wherever possible.
This may include:
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Short-term event support and crew assistance
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Collaboration with local suppliers and service providers
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Engagement with community organisations and volunteers
Even brief opportunities are treated as meaningful contributions to the success of the event.
A Living Cultural Exchange
Cultural participation is not limited to what happens on stage. At certain locations, and where appropriate, the production may engage with local traditions, customs, or community gatherings outside the performance space.
These moments of exchange deepen understanding and help ensure that the production remains responsive to the communities it visits — not separate from them.
Why This Matters
By inviting communities to take part rather than simply attend, We Speak Eleven – The Musical moves beyond performance and becomes a shared cultural journey.
This approach reflects the core belief of the project:
that nation-building begins when people are given space to speak, be seen, and be heard.
Cultural Rights Statement
We Speak Eleven recognises that all cultural expressions remain the property of the communities and individuals who carry them. Participation does not transfer ownership or control.