BINA BHATTACHARYA
Statement
What exactly happened Here Out West? I met a dazzling array of creatives, I improved my craft as a screenwriter, and I got to be part of something bigger than I could have ever imagined.
When we first migrated to Australia in 1988, we lived with my grandparents in Morton Street Parramatta next door to an old Australian lady whose name was Mrs Biddy. She was so different to my grandmother; she was refined and delicate and very polite. And although she spoke no Arabic and us no English, both parties did speak ‘Scotch Fingers’ and this was more than enough to
feel like family at her house. Similarly, when we moved to our third house on the Great Western Highway in Parramatta, we lived opposite the Rogers family.
Since my sister and I went to the same school as Julie, Louise and Elizabeth (and since we didn’t yet have a car), Mrs Rogers would give Laura and I a lift to and from school. We’d have to cross the busy highway to get to their house and when we did, we’d be greeted by Mrs Rogers and her white and orange combi van. And pretend-Russian accent (she was quite the thespian!). ‘We, The Spiders’ is dedicated to these two women. Mrs Biddy and Mrs Rogers were the Australia that greeted us with open arms and made us feel safe when there was so much newness to be afraid of. And for this, I will always hold them deep in my heart.
Biography
Nisrine Amine is a Sydney-based actor, writer and teacher. Nisrine appeared in the Channel 9 series Amazing Grace, the Australian feature film Slam (2018) as well as FX’s Mr Inbetween (2019), Frayed (ABC, 2019), Deadly Women (2018), Here Come The Habibs (2017), and Janet King (2017) and the short films Amir (2018), Candlelight (2017), The Woman on the Top Floor (2012), Broken Time (2013), and The Parisian (2013), the web series I Luv u But (2014) and TAFEWSI’s, Rob’s Campaign (2016). Her stage credits include Shaz and Tina: Waiting for Uber (Sydney Fringe Festival 2019), Lady Tabouli (Green Door/Apocalypse/Griffin Theatre Company, 2019), The Girl/The Woman (NTOP/Riverside Theatre 2018), Alex and Eve: The Complete Story (Factory Theatre, 2013) where she played the title role of Eve, The Colour Blind Project (Tap Gallery, 2011), and Arabian Nights (New Theatre, 2012). Nisrine’s
short film Apricot (ABC, 2018) received funding by Screen NSW as part of their SEED: Regional Funding initiative and premiered at Flickerfest 2018, as well as various other national and international film festivals. As a director, Nisrine directed the Martin Lysicrates Prize at Riverside Theatres Parramatta
in 2019/2021. Nisrine is also a curator and producer with her most recent project being the curation of the Liverpool hub of the Sydney Fringe Festival 2018 as well as the City of Parramatta Council’s Youth Week Comedy Night at Riverside Theatres. Nisrine is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Parramatta Actors Centre.
THE GREATEST STORIES ARE THE ONES WE TELL TOGETHER
Creative Team
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work, and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.