Meet Nadia Sirninger Rankin | Theatre Maker & visual artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nadia Sirninger Rankin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nadia, how does your business help the community?
I started Running With Scissors Theatre for a few key reasons. The first is that the theatre community in Melbourne can sometimes feel quite insular, making it difficult for emerging theatre makers to find opportunities that serve as a launching point into the industry. I want Running With Scissors to be a space where artists can feel comfortable being themselves, collaborating, and contributing to social change.

As a female-led company, we aim to highlight the perspectives of women and marginalised groups. The playwrights I grew up hearing about were Pinter, Ibsen, Oscar Wilde and a whole lot of other men. As I grew older and learned about the patriarchal context that dominated so much performance art, I became more passionate about giving women a voice.

Cutting Onions was RWS’s premiere production, I wrote the piece after a lifetime of hearing troubling stories from women in my life, about their male partners. The piece is an amalgamation of these stories, some of which are my own. It aims to highlight the unintentionally harmful behaviours of male partners, shaped by patriarchal conditioning. Cutting Onions is careful not to vilify ‘The Man’, it rather puts a spotlight on the way gender expectations impact everyone while focusing on ‘The Woman’s’ perspective.
The audience response was overwhelmingly positive. It became abundantly clear that this production deeply resonated with women. The piece opened up conversations about gender dynamics within relationships, leading to shared tears and meaningful discourse. Some people even began discussing these themes with their partners, which was a powerful outcome.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am both a theatremaker and a visual artist. Throughout my life, people have often asked which I prefer or which I will eventually “choose,” but for me, one does not exist without the other. Theatre is social and collaborative, allowing me to grow and take on new and exciting challenges. In contrast, when I paint large-scale portraits, it is a personal and internal experience. However, I am happiest when these two art forms combine, enabling me to create visually striking theatre. My love for both stems from my fascination with people; the light in their eyes and the intriguing ways they characterize themselves.

Running With Scissors Theatre aims to unite these artistic elements, creating unrefined spectacles and challenging perfectionism in the hope of revealing deeper truths within the human experience.

Though I come from a family of supportive artists, it’s difficult to escape the ever-present societal belief that “you cannot make a career in the arts.” In Australia, the creative arts are not well-supported by the government, and career opportunities often feel gatekept for the fortunate few. As a young, outspoken, 5 foot 3 woman who seeks out leadership roles, I have often not been taken seriously in my endeavours. Many women share the experience of being spoken down to, pedestaled, and sexually harassed. I know this to be true not only in my industry but in all industries, for women and gender-diverse people alike.

Now, I manage and curate a small art studio and am gaining confidence in running my own theatre company, meaning my entire income comes from the arts. This is something I am incredibly grateful for, and I hope that through my work in the creative industries, I can contribute to building a culture that empowers people to pursue careers in the arts.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Though I live in the east of Melbourne, I have come to appreciate the identity and culture of the CBD. Melbourne has so many hole-in-the-wall cafes and bars and here we have multiple independent theatre venues such as Theatre Works, The Butterfly Club and La Mama, that always have exciting, original pieces throughout the year.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by a wonderful support network. Coming from a family of inspired artists, my mother, in particular, had a significant impact throughout the production process. I owe so much of my creative achievement to her incredible ability to filter, edit, and generate unique ideas.

I also want to express my deepest gratitude to my partner, Liam. Not only did he contribute creatively and take on the monumental task of building the set, but he also supported me through the stress and challenges of learning how to run a theatre company.

During the writing process, I had the invaluable support of Julia Slater-Allan (who performed as ‘The Woman’), who shared profound insights into the female perspective, and Nicholas Reynolds (Production Consultant and Assistant Director), who brought creative professionalism and academic insight to the piece.

The entire team of Cutting Onions had a tremendous impact on the final outcome, and I am so thankful for their professionalism and dedication.

Cutting Onions Production Roles:
Writer/Producer/Director: Nadia Sirninger Rankin
Assistant Director/Production Consultant: Nicholas Reynolds
Production/Stage Management: Liz Everett
Assistant Stage Management: Amanda Dhammanarachchi, Ana Swadling, Jaime Watts
Cast: Julia Slater-Allan, Sam Corr
Set: Liam McKay, Doug McKay, Cheryl Martin
Lighting/Sound Design and Operation: Rohan Dimsey
Graphic Design/property creation: Sophie Sirninger Rankin, Patricia Sirninger

Instagram: @runningwithscissorstheatre

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559282432335

Other: My Visual Arts Links:
inyourfaceart.com
@inyourfaceart

Theatre Company Email:
runningwithscissorstheatre@gmail.com

Image Credits
Photographers: Evan Grosvenor, Sophie Sirninger Rankin, Rohan Dimsey
Featuring: Julia Slater-Allan, Elizabeth Everett, Jaime Watts, Liam Mckay, Nadia Sirninger Rankin