Equity taking
centre stage

La Trobe’s helped set the scene for The Australian Ballet’s 2024 production Oscar©. Our renowned experts in history, sexuality and creative writing helped bring Oscar Wilde’s life, times and works to the stage with integrity and compassion.

Dr Timothy Jones leading a workshop with The Australian Ballet's dancers.

OFF THE PAGE & ONTO THE STAGE

Partners of The Australian Ballet since 2017, we’re proud to join with them in a groundbreaking collaboration, bringing our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion to life on stage. La Trobe believes real impact goes far beyond the walls of our campus grounds, so we’ve harnessed our strengths in humanities and social sciences, to help The Australian Ballet tell Oscar Wilde’s story.

The importance of being Oscar

Oscar© has been carefully crafted with consultation by La Trobe academics. What started as a research paper and workshop by our team of experts to help inform the production's historical setting and character development, is now a book.

The Importance of Being Oscar is a queer reading of Oscar Wilde, diving into Wilde’s career and personal life – both of which contribute to his significance as a writer and complicated gay icon.

As a companion to the unspoken artform of ballet, the book offers insights into Wilde’s story.

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Academic consulting team

Photo of Emeritus Professor Dennis Altman AM
Emeritus Professor Dennis Altman AM Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow and Professorial Fellow

Dennis is a writer, academic and gay rights activist. He was President of the AIDS Society of Asia and the Pacific, was listed in the 100 most influential Australians, and is Patron of the Australian Queer Archives and the Pride Foundation.

Photo of Dr Timothy Jones
Dr Timothy Jones Associate Professor, History

Tim is a historian and social researcher specialising in equality and wellbeing related to religion, gender and sexuality. He has worked as consultant and visiting expert to many inquiries and is President of the Australian Queer Archives.

Photo of Dr Alexis Harley
Dr Alexis Harley Senior Lecturer, English & Creative Writing

Alexis is the Graduate Research Coordinator for Creative Arts and English. She is an associate editor of Life Writing and has published on Wilde’s lifelong interest in evolutionary theories and how this influenced his prison writings.

Photo of Dr Noel Maloney
Dr Noel Maloney Senior Lecturer, English & Creative Writing

Noel teaches screenwriting and performance writing in the Bachelor of Arts. He researches contemporary scriptwriting in Australia and has written extensively for radio, television drama, and more recently, theatre.

Oscar: a literary love affair

Hosted by La Trobe in 2024, this panel discussion explores Oscar Wilde’s influences, his impact on future generations of artists, and how La Trobe and The Australian Ballet brought his story to the stage with Oscar©.

Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.

– Oscar Wilde

INSPIRING, ON & OFF THE STAGE

Together, La Trobe and The Australian Ballet make gravity-defying leaps in humanities and sports medicine research. From injury prevention and optimisations of dancer health to literary and historical consultation, we’re making a real impact.

Learn more about the partnership

Arts at La Trobe

Arts at La Trobe

The world needs creative thinkers who can generate innovative solutions for some of society's most challenging issues. We offer more than 50 majors and minors in Arts so students can combine interests and discover the unknowns.

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Our vision for equity

Our vision for equity

Being a force for positive change is in La Trobe’s DNA. We’re committed to progressing equity, diversity and inclusion through sector-leading research and initiatives that emphasise our values and dedication to social justice.

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Explore the ballet

Discover more about The Australian Ballet’s 2024 production Oscar©, including synopsis, showing times, ticketing and credits.

Visit The Australian Ballet website