Well-known performer and theatre-maker Drew Fairley, a Wollongong favourite with long-term connections to our region’s performance community, has accepted a commission from Merrigong to undertake the first stage of writing a new work (untitled as yet) inspired by his experience of being stranded as a performer on a cruise ship for over 10 weeks during the crisis.

With a varied career as a performer, singer, director, playwright and dramaturg, Drew has branched out to contemporary and Musical Theatre styles and has performed two critically acclaimed solo cabarets; Sook and Romance. He operated a madrigal group for five years and is interested in melding drama and songs.

Artist Statement

I was stuck on a cruise ship for over two months. For some of that time I was floating without direction or urgency. It was quite a frustrating, even frightening time. I had to forget who I had been up until this time. From there, a huge creative surge flooded me. I suspect I experienced the richness of abandon… or something like that. It feels like a very human story.

I have made a career in many different fields. Trained as an opera singer, worked as a burlesque Emcee and regardless of how highbrow or lowbrow the art is, I’m intrigued. This breadth has served me well as a creative but more particularly as a listener. I love to couch my shows in entertainment but there is always a rope ladder heading up or down whichever way the audience feels comfortable going.

– Drew Fairley

Artist Conversation

Listen to our MERRIGONGX Conversations podcast to hear our Artistic Development Manager Leland Kean chat to Drew Fairley. In Part 1 Drew discusses his creative path and connections to the Illawarra. In Part 2 they discuss the independent artist scene from the late 90s through to Drew’s fascinating experience on board a cruise ship during the COVID-19 pandemic.